Artwork
Dans la salle de bains (In the Bathroom)
Dans la salle de bains (In the Bathroom) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Jean‑Louis Forain’s lithograph Dans la salle de bains was produced circa 1895 on wove Arches vellum paper.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:"forain" lower right margin, in stone, artist's hand. Not dated. "N. G 36" lower left margin, graphite, unknown hand. "Après le bain diseuse de bonne aventure" verso, lower center sheet, graphite, unknown hand. "N. G. 36." verso, lower left 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
Jean‑Louis Forain’s lithograph Dans la salle de bains was produced circa 1895 on wove Arches vellum paper. The work presents a modest interior scene set in a bathroom, rendered in the fluid, sketch‑like manner characteristic of Forain’s printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures two women within a dimly lit space. One figure, turned away from the viewer, wears a long coat and hat; the other, partially turned, is loosely draped in a cloth. A simple chair and a small table complete the setting, suggesting an everyday, private moment.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the piece relies on rapid, gestural lines that convey movement and the texture of fabric. Forain’s handling of light emphasizes the edges of the coat and cloth, creating a sense of immediacy akin to a quick sketch.
History & Provenance
Forain, active in the late 19th‑century French art world, was known for his oils, watercolors, pastels, etchings, and lithographs. While he enjoyed commercial success during his lifetime, his reputation has not endured at the level of some of his Impressionist contemporaries.
Context
The work reflects Forain’s interest in contemporary urban life and domestic interiors, themes he explored across media. Lithography offered him a means to produce multiple copies with fine tonal variation, aligning with the broader print culture of the 1890s.
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.
