1917
watercolor
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Debout, les Morts! is a 1917 watercolor by Jean-Louis Forain, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a lopsided, almost falling figure in a hat and coat, holding a green-and-gold object like a shield or tray. The arms and legs are stretched out awkwardly, and the body leans sideways as if collapsing. The background has a few scattered crosses and faint blue scribbles, with the whole scene drawn on thin, yellowish paper. The title written below—*"Debout, les Morts!"*—means something like "Rise up, the Dead!" in French, adding a strange, almost mocking twist to the scene. The loose, sketchy lines and uneven shapes make it feel like a quick, rough idea rather than a finished drawing. If you like this style, look up Forain, Jean-Louis for more of his bold, off-kilter work.
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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