Artwork
Le train de Berne (The Train for Berne)
Le train de Berne (The Train for Berne) is an ink drawing by Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Jean‑Louis Forain’s drawing Le train de Berne (c.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:"forain" lower right composition, graphite, artist's hand. Not dated. "Le train de Berne.(Le depart des Unifies.) "Ils vont demandex aux Allemands qui a commence la guerre." lower margin, graphite, unknown hand. " A2393I A2369[stricken] wrong number" 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 drawing Le train de Berne (c. 1916) is executed with brown and black ink applied by brush, supplemented with black crayon, on laid Van Gelder paper. The work measures roughly a sheet of paper and belongs to Forain’s extensive output of drawings, a medium he employed alongside oil, watercolor, pastel, etching and lithography.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures a moment on a railway platform where a group of soldiers in heavy winter coats and caps have gathered around a fallen comrade. The wounded figure lies prone, rifle in hand, while the surrounding men lean forward, their faces marked by tension and concentration, suggesting the immediacy of wartime loss.
Technique & Style
Forain builds form through loose, rapid strokes of ink and crayon, using cross‑hatching and layered lines to model the heavy fabrics and shadows. The texture of the laid paper remains visible, contributing a gritty surface that reinforces the somber atmosphere. The drawing’s gestural quality reflects the artist’s impressionistic approach to line and tone.
History & Provenance
Created during the later years of World I, the piece reflects Forain’s engagement with contemporary events. While Forain enjoyed considerable commercial success in his lifetime, his reputation has waned since the mid‑20th century. The drawing’s ownership record is limited to private collections, with no known exhibition history beyond occasional retrospectives of his work.
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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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