First Exhibition of the Humorists, Palace of Style

First Exhibition of the Humorists, Palace of Style

Jean-Louis Forain

1911

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a quick, loose drawing of a person mid-motion, arms outstretched like they’re dancing or falling. Their hair and clothes are just rough lines, and the whole scene feels hurried—almost like it was drawn in one go. Two hats float in the top right corner, as if they just dropped off. The red and black lines stand out against the light background, making the figure pop. The style looks fast and playful, not polished at all. If you like this sketchy, energetic style, check out lithography to see how artists make prints like this.

More by Jean-Louis Forain

Artifact World Gallery — 100,000 artworks Get the app