Témoins à l'audience (1ère planche) (Evidence at the Hearing) (first plate)

1908

Jean-Louis Forain

Associated Names
Jean-Louis Forain

Artist, French, 1852 - 1931

The image depicts a sketch of a woman and a child. The woman's upper body is shown, slightly leaning forward, holding the child in her arms. Her head is turned slightly to the right, with loose, curly hair falling around her face and a hat of some sort on her head. Her facial features are softly drawn, with distinctive lines defining her eyes and mouth. She wears an outfit with a pronounced collar and sleeves, with the rest of her attire blending into the impressionistic lines. The child is nestled closely in her arms, partly covered by fabric, with a faint hint of a face peeking through. Behind them, another figure stands tall and cloaked in flowing garments, with hands raised to chest level. The backdrop is minimally detailed, giving a textured appearance that enhances the prominence of the central figures. The sketch is composed of delicate lines against a pale background, creating an ethereal quality to the scene.

Media Options

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

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    soft-ground etching (zinc) in brown on laid Van Gelder paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    plate: 21.7 × 29.2 cm (8 9/16 × 11 1/2 in.)
    sheet: 38.5 × 50.5 cm (15 3/16 × 19 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.3746

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Faxon 1982, no. 43, State only


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Lessing J. Rosenwald [1891-1979], Jenkintown, PA; gift to NGA, 1943.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1982

  • Faxon, Alicia Craig. Jean-Louis Forain: A Catalogue Raisonne of the Prints. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1982.

Inscriptions

"forain" lower right margin, graphite, artist's hand. Not dated. "G. 32 Témoins à l'audience (1ère planche)." lower left margin, graphite, unknown hand. "A. 26539" lower right margin, graphite, unknown hand. Verso: none.

Markings

"LRJ" verso, black stamped ink, stamped twice, (Lugt 1760b). "National Gallery of Art" verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 1932d).

Watermarks

[crowned Strasburg lily] "VGL / VAN GELDER ZON[EN]"

Wikidata ID

Q64959271

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