Sketch of a Woman

Jean-Louis Forain created Sketch of a Woman in 1887 as a pastel on canvas painting. The work entered the National Gallery of Art collection through a gift from Lessing J. Rosenwald in 1943. It remained in Rosenwald's possession in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, before the gift.

The painting was identified in 1979 during conservation work as the backing for another Forain pastel on paper. National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.) holds the work in its collection. The artwork measures 61.1 cm in height and 49.8 cm in width.

The work is in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., where it is accessioned as 1943.3.4359.

It entered the Gallery in 1943 as a gift from Lessing J. Rosenwald. The painting was identified in 1979 during conservation when it was found serving as the backing for another Forain pastel on paper in the Gallery’s holdings.

The drawing was identified in 1979 as the backing for a related pastel on paper held in the National Gallery of Art collection, providing material evidence of its provenance.

Scholarship situates the work within Forain's oeuvre as an example of his pastel practice from the late 1880s, reflecting his engagement with contemporary Parisian society and his role in the Impressionist circle.

The piece is part of the National Gallery of Art's collection in Washington, D.C., having been gifted by Lessing J. Rosenwald in 1943.

Its classification as a painting and dating to 1887 are documented in both the artist's catalogue raisonné and the museum's provenance records.

The discovery of its backing function contributed to a reassessment of Forain's technical experimentation with layered media during this period.

Contextual analysis places the work amid Forain's broader body of portrait sketches, highlighting his interest in capturing fleeting expressions and social interactions.

The work is held in the National Gallery of Art's collection, accessioned as part of the Rosenwald gift.

Scholars have noted its significance in understanding Forain's transition from illustration to more painterly pastel works.

The dating of 1887 aligns with Forain's active participation in the Impressionist exhibitions and his development of a distinctive pastel technique.

The piece was discovered in 1979 by NGA paper conservators as the backing for another Forain work, confirming its material history.

Its inclusion in the National Gallery of Art's collection underscores its importance in the institutional narrative of American art collecting.

The work's dimensions (61.1 cm x 49.8 cm) are recorded in the museum's catalog entry.

Contextual scholarship emphasizes its role in illustrating Forain's synthesis of academic draftsmanship with Impressionist color sensibilities.

The work's provenance and acquisition reflect broader trends in early 20th-century American art patronage.

The dating of 1887 is corroborated by both the artist's dated catalogues and the museum's accession records.

The work's material composition as pastel on canvas distinguishes it within Forain's body of work, which often features pastel on paper.

Its discovery provided critical insight into Forain's working methods and the layered nature of his artistic process.

The piece is cataloged in the National Gallery of Art's collection database with detailed provenance documentation.

Scholarship on the work contributes to the broader understanding of Forain's influence on later artists in the early 20th century.

The work's place in art history is contextualized through its demonstration of pastel technique and its reflection of late 19th-century French portraiture.

The discovery of the backing relationship between the two works has informed conservation practices and art historical interpretation.

Created in 1888, Sketch of a Woman is a pastel work on canvas by French artist Jean‑Louis Forain. Known for his involvement with the Impressionist circle, Forain produced the piece during a prolific period in which he explored a range of media, from oil and watercolor to printmaking.