Artwork
La retour (The Return)
La retour (The Return) is an ink drawing by Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:Not signed. Not dated. "La retour" lower right margin, graphite, unknown hand. "A 2288" 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, La retour (The Return) is a black‑crayon and ink drawing on laid paper by French artist Jean‑Louis Forain. The work captures a fleeting street scene, rendered with swift, gestural lines that convey movement and immediacy.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts two figures walking side by side, each cloaked in heavy coats and hats, one bearing a bag. A horse‑drawn carriage appears in the background, rendered in loose strokes that suggest a bustling urban environment and the everyday act of returning home.
Technique & Style
Forain combines crayon shading, brushwork, and ink hatching to model the folds of clothing and facial shadows. The drawing’s rapid, sketch‑like quality reflects his graphic sensibility, while the layered cross‑hatching builds depth and contrast typical of his late Impressionist‑influenced practice.
History & Provenance
Although Forain was better known for oils, watercolors, and prints, this drawing illustrates his versatility across media. Produced during the later phase of his career, it aligns with the period when his work enjoyed considerable contemporary popularity, even as his post‑humous reputation has waned.
![Five Studies of Soldiers and a Woman's Face; Two Figures [recto]](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/paul-gauguin--five-studies-of-soldiers-and-a-woman-s-face-two-figures-rect--9d09632e7e517067-w320.webp)
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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