Artwork
Le cabinet particulier (4e planche) (The Private Room) (fourth plate)
Le cabinet particulier (4e planche) (The Private Room) (fourth plate) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:Not signed. Not dated. "En Cabinet particulier" lower left margin, graphite, unknown hand. "G 13 2" upper right margin, graphite, unknown hand. "EE2504 2/351" lower right margin, graphite, unknown hand. "EYX" verso, lower left sheet, graphite, unknown hand. "1880" [underlined] verso, lower right sheet, graphite, unknown hand.
- Markings
- Marked:(Alfred Beurdeley collector's stamp) lower right margin, black stamped ink, (Lugt 421). "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 Le cabinet particulier (4e planche), executed circa 1893, presents a modest interior scene rendered on wove Arches vellum paper.
Jean‑Louis Forain’s lithograph Le cabinet particulier (4e planche), executed circa 1893, presents a modest interior scene rendered on wove Arches vellum paper. The composition centers on a dimly lit room where a table, draped in a white cloth, holds a bottle, a glass and a plate of food. A seated figure and a partially concealed standing figure populate the space, their presence hinted at by subtle chiaroscuro that gives the work a quiet, intimate atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The setting is generally interpreted as a private chamber, likely a brothel, a recurring motif in Forain’s oeuvre that critiques urban vice and social mores. By focusing on a secluded, everyday moment rather than overt drama, the image invites contemplation of the hidden aspects of Parisian life in the late nineteenth century, reflecting the artist’s satirical interest in the city’s undercurrents.
Technique & Style
Created through lithography, the print exploits the medium’s capacity for fine tonal variation. Forain employs a restrained palette and delicate line work, while the contrast of light and shadow, enhanced by the white tablecloth, produces depth and volume. The use of wove Arches vellum paper, known for its smooth surface, allows the subtle gradations of tone to emerge with clarity, characteristic of Forain’s printmaking practice.
History & Provenance
Forain, a French painter and printmaker associated with the Impressionist circle, achieved commercial success during his lifetime, especially for his prints and illustrations. Le cabinet particulier (4e planche) was produced in the early 1890s, a period when the artist was actively publishing lithographs in newspapers and albums. The work has since entered museum and private collections, though its visibility has waned as Forain’s reputation has been reassessed in the twentieth century.
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.
- Le cabinet particulier (5e planche) (The Private Room) (fifth plate)
Le cabinet particulier (1ère planche) (The Private Room) (first plate)
Le cabinet particulier (3e planche) (The Private Room) (third plate)
En cabinet particulier (1ère planche) (In a Private Room) (first plate)
Scène de cabinet particulier (planche en largeur) (Scene in a Private Room) (horizontal plate)
Scène de cabinet particulier (planche en largeur au lavis) (Scene in a Private Room) (horizontal plate with wash)
Scène de cabinet particulier (planche en hauteur) (Scene in a Private Room) (vertical plate)