Artwork
a) Standing Woman with a Fan (recto); b) Study of a Man and Woman (verso)
a) Standing Woman with a Fan (recto); b) Study of a Man and Woman (verso) is a watercolor drawing by the Impressionist artist Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:"j.l. forain" lower right composition, black watercolor, artist's hand. Not dated. "273" verso, upper right sheet, graphite, unknown hand. "[illeg.]" verso, center sheet, graphite, unknown hand.
- Markings
- Marked:None.
About this work
Overview
Jean-Louis Forain created a double-sided drawing around 1885, featuring 'Standing Woman with a Fan' on the recto and 'Study of a Man and Woman' on the verso, both executed in watercolor on wove paper.
Subject & Meaning
The recto depicts a solitary woman in a dimly lit room, dressed in dark attire with distinctive gold gloves and a white collar, accompanied by a tall, empty vase on a red tablecloth under moonlit night sky outside. The verso shows a contrasting scene of a man and woman together. The works capture everyday, intimate moments.
Technique & Style
Forain employed loose, sketchy brushstrokes in watercolor, characteristic of late 19th-century practices, imparting a sense of quick capture and soft expressiveness to both figures. Opaque watercolor was additionally used on the recto.
History & Provenance
Created during Forain's commercially successful period, these works demonstrate his Impressionist-influenced yet distinct figurative approach. His reputation, however, has waned compared to his contemporaries.
Context
Part of Forain's broader oeuvre in various mediums (oils, pastels, etching, lithography), these watercolors reflect his exploration of Impressionist techniques in a more subdued, intimate scale.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Louis Forain (French pronunciation:; 23 October 1852 – 11 July 1931) was a French Impressionist painter and printmaker, working in media including oils, watercolour, pastel, etching and lithograph.
