Le Bon Feu (The Good Fire)

c. 1916

Jean-Louis Forain

Associated Names
Jean-Louis Forain

Artist, French, 1852 - 1931

Henri Chachoin

Printer, French, active late 19th century

This is a drawing of a charitable campaign poster. The image features text and a drawing of two figures inside a room. The text, "Le Bon Feu," references a charitable initiative from 1914-1916, and is complemented by a handwritten letter from Jean Wolff. The drawing shows a seated figure and a standing figure covered in clothing, in front of a simple room interior with basic fixtures like a mantle and bottle. The poster's text implores readers not to forget those who are cold, emphasizing providing warmth through coal distribution to those in need. The imagery is rendered in a monochromatic color scheme with soft, textured lines, indicative of graphite or charcoal drawings for illustrative purposes.

Media Options

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

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    lithograph [poster] in black and brown on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall: 119.8 × 79.6 cm (47 3/16 × 31 5/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.4358

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Faxon 1982, no. 305


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, black ink. "LE BON FEU / 1914 - 1915 - 1916" upper center composition, brown ink. "Imp. H. CHACHOIN. PARIS" lower left margin, brown ink.

Markings

"National Gallery of Art" verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 1932d). "73"[encircled] verso, black stamped ink.

Watermarks

None.

Wikidata ID

Q64959596

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