La fraction du pain (The Breaking of the Bread)

1902/1907

Jean-Louis Forain

Associated Names
Jean-Louis Forain

Artist, French, 1852 - 1931

The image shows three individuals seated at a table. Two people are facing away from the viewer while the third is depicted sitting at the left side of the table with their hands resting on the table, looking slightly upward. This person has long hair, a beard, and is wearing a loose, flowing garment. The other two individuals are facing the third person, their heads slightly bowed. All individuals appear to be wearing robes. The background is simple and monochrome. The sketchy, linear style creates a shadowed effect around the figures.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and drypoint in brown on laid Van Gelder paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    image: 27.5 × 24.1 cm (10 13/16 × 9 1/2 in.)
    plate: 29.7 × 25.8 cm (11 11/16 × 10 3/16 in.)
    sheet: 50 × 37.1 cm (19 11/16 × 14 5/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.3796

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Faxon 1982, no. 38, State ii/iii

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. "2eme etat" lower left margin, graphite, artist's hand. "Emmaus" verso, lower center sheet, graphite, unknown hand. "EE826" verso, lower left sheet, graphite, unknown hand.

Markings

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

Watermarks

[Fortune figure] / "VAN GELDER ZON[EN]"

Wikidata ID

Q64959367

You may be interested in

Loading Results