Artwork
Le gros cigare (The Big Cigar)
Le gros cigare (The Big Cigar) is an ink print by Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1909 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:"forain" lower right margin, graphite, artist's hand. Not dated. "G38" lower left margin, graphite, unknown hand. "K. 5529 / c. 6054" lower left margin, graphite, unknown hand. "G. 38 Le gros cigare." lower center margin, graphite, artist's hand. "cons 6054" lower right margin, graphite, unknown hand. "A 26553." 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
Jean‑Louis Forain’s 1909 print Le gros cigare (The Big Cigar) is executed in soft‑ground etching and drypoint on a zinc plate, the impression taken on laid Van Gelder paper. The composition focuses on a seated gentleman, attired in a suit, holding a conspicuously large cigar that dominates the visual field.
Subject & Meaning
The figure’s confident bearing and the prominent cigar evoke notions of leisure, affluence, and social status typical of early‑twentieth‑century urban life. By centering the cigar, Forain draws attention to a symbol of sophistication, inviting viewers to consider the rituals of the well‑to‑do class.
Technique & Style
Forain combines soft‑ground etching, which captures subtle tonal variations, with drypoint, a method that yields rich, velvety lines. The interplay of these techniques creates texture in the fabric, chair, and smoke, while the shallow depth of field emphasizes the man’s face and the cigar’s bulk.
History & Provenance
Forain, a French artist associated with Impressionist circles, was a prolific painter and printmaker whose work enjoyed commercial success during his lifetime. Le gros cigare reflects his printmaking practice of the period, though his post‑humous reputation has not sustained the same level of recognition as some contemporaries.
Context
Produced at a time when smoking cigars was a marker of wealth and cosmopolitan taste, the print aligns with Forain’s broader interest in contemporary social scenes. The work exemplifies the early 1900s fascination with modern urban leisure and the visual documentation of its participants.
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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