a) Le Poilu et Prisonnier (Poilu and Prisoner) (recto); b) Study of Prisoner (verso)
1916
watercolor
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1916
watercolor
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
a) Le Poilu et Prisonnier (Poilu and Prisoner) (recto); b) Study of Prisoner (verso) is a 1916 watercolor by Jean-Louis Forain, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows two men in rough clothes. One stands tall, hands clasped, wearing a cap and overalls. The other sits hunched on the ground, head down, bundled in a coat and hat. A wheelbarrow and some tools lie nearby, with a rocky, uneven ground underfoot. The standing man’s posture looks confident, while the seated man seems worn out. The title hints at a contrast between them—one might be a soldier, the other a prisoner. Check out watercolor, glazing to see how artists build depth with layers of paint.
