Artwork
Les Nuits de Paris
Les Nuits de Paris is a print by Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Les Nuits de Paris is a 1916 print by Jean-Louis Forain, a French artist known for his work in various mediums.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a woman sitting on a bed with a baby, while a man observes her from a doorway. The woman's tired posture and averted face convey a sense of weariness, while the man's posture suggests he is watching her intently.
Technique & Style
The print is a collotype on laid paper, characterized by rough, quick lines and strong contrasts between light and dark, achieved through the use of chiaroscuro.
History & Provenance
Forain was a contemporary of other Impressionist artists, and achieved significant success during his lifetime, although his recognition has since waned.
Context
Les Nuits de Paris reflects Forain's interest in urban themes and his use of printmaking to explore these subjects.
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.
Témoins à l'audience (2e planche) (Evidence at the Hearing) (second plate)
Témoins à l'audience (2e planche) (Evidence at the Hearing) (second plate)
La repos en Egypte (The Rest in Egypt)
Le petit déjeuner (planche en largeur) (Breakfast) (horizontal plate)
Monday Morning, Holland
Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Témoins à l'audience (1ère planche) (Evidence at the Hearing) (first plate)
Greeting Grandmother (Le Bonjour à la Grand-mère)
a) C'etait notre maison (recto); b) Refugees in a Landscape (verso)
Le repos en Egypte (The Rest in Egypt)
Mother and Child, No. 1
Temoins à l'audience