Sketch of a Woman

1885/1890

Jean-Louis Forain

Associated Names
Jean-Louis Forain

Artist, French, 1852 - 1931

This drawing depicts a woman's head and neck in two overlapping sketches, with one that is upside-down, like a reflection. The top sketch of the woman has her face looking towards us. She has pale, white-blue skin and dark brown hair in a bun at the top of her head. Her facial features are outlined in pale gray, making them hard to see against her skin, but she appears to have round eyes, a small nose, and lips set in a neutral expression. The upside-down portrait shows her head turned in profile, with her hair down, cascading over one shoulder. Hints of fingers can be seen near this hair, and it overlaps with the upright face. Surrounding these overlapping portraits are lines of white, green, and gray on the pale-yellow background.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    pastel on canvas

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall: 61.1 x 49.8 cm (24 1/16 x 19 5/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.26


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Lessing J. Rosenwald [1891-1979], Jenkintown, PA; gift 1943 to NGA.[1]
[1] This work was discovered in 1979 by NGA paper conservaters as the backing for a Forain pastel on paper (NGA 1943.3.4359).

Associated Names

Bibliography

1985

  • European Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1985: 155, repro.

Wikidata ID

Q20189786

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