Who painted a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso)?

a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso) was painted by Jean-Louis Forain in 1892.

Where can I see a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso)?

a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso)?

a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso) is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso)?

Museum-quality prints of a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso)

Jean-Louis Forain , 1892

a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso) is an ink drawing by the Impressionist artist Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:"f." lower right composition, black ink, artist's hand. Not dated. "Inv. no 299" lower right composition, black ink, unknown hand. "Fin de soutien" verso, lower right sheet, graphite, unknown hand. "3668" [underlined] verso, lower right sheet, graphite, unknown hand.
Markings: Marked:"LRJ" verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 1760b). "National Gallery of Art" verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 1932d).

About this work

Overview

This double-sided drawing, created in 1892 by French artist Jean-Louis Forain, features two distinct scenes on its recto and verso sides. The work showcases Forain's versatility across different media and his ability to capture a range of subjects and emotions.

Subject & Meaning

The recto side depicts a waiter interacting with a customer, a scene of everyday social exchange. In contrast, the verso presents a sketch of a man and woman, characterized by loose, expressive lines and a sense of dynamic movement.

Technique & Style

Forain employed brush and black ink, supplemented by graphite on the recto, to create these drawings on wove paper. The verso's rapid, gestural lines and selective shading convey a sense of spontaneity and emotional intensity, suggesting a quickly captured moment.

a) Au front de Vincennes, Bolo pacha (recto); b) Sketch for Au front de Vincennes, Bolo pacha (verso), Jean-Louis Forain

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Artist & collection

Artist

Jean-Louis Forain

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.