Artwork
Ceux de la priemiere heure. "Sire! ou en somme-nous de la guerre fraiche et joyeuse!"
Ceux de la priemiere heure. "Sire! ou en somme-nous de la guerre fraiche et joyeuse!" is a crayon drawing by Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created circa 1916, Ceux de la première heure.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:"forain" lower right margin, graphite, artist's hand. Not dated. "Ceux de la premiere heure. "Sire! ou en somme-nous de "la guerre fraiche et joyeuse!"" lower margin, graphite, unknown hand. "A2325" lower right margin, graphite, unknown hand. Verso: none.
- Markings
- Marked:"LRJ" verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 1760b). "National Gallery of Art" verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 1932d).
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1916, Ceux de la première heure. "Sire! ou en somme‑nous de la guerre fraîche et joyeuse!" is a black‑crayon drawing on wove paper by French artist Jean‑Louis Forain. The work records a brief, gestural observation of soldiers in motion, rendered in a single monochrome tone.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a line of infantrymen marching across an open landscape, their profiles reduced to simplified silhouettes. The title’s reference to a wartime summons suggests an ironic or satirical commentary on the early stages of World War I, emphasizing the youthful vigor and perhaps the naïve enthusiasm of the troops.
Technique & Style
Forain employs a rapid, sketch‑like application of black crayon, allowing the medium’s softness to convey movement and atmosphere. The drawing’s loose strokes and partially unfinished areas reflect the artist’s Impressionist background, prioritising the overall impression of the scene over detailed rendering.
History & Provenance
The piece originates from the period when Forain, known primarily for his oil paintings and prints, turned to quick drawings to document contemporary events. Its exact ownership trail is not widely recorded, but it remains representative of Forain’s wartime output and his engagement with current affairs through a graphic, immediacy‑driven approach.
Own this work as a print
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.
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