Artwork
Sur le lit (On the Bed)
Sur le lit (On the Bed) 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. "1er etat" lower left margin, graphite, artist's hand. "Sur le Lit" lower left margin, graphite, artist's hand. "G 67" upper light margin, graphite, unknown hand. "MK 30303" lower left margin, graphite, unknown hand. "13958" [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
Sur le lit (On the Bed) is an etching on laid Van Gelder paper created by French artist Jean-Louis Forain around 1909. The print is a representative work of Forain's oeuvre, showcasing his skill in capturing intimate scenes.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a woman reclining on a bed, with a mirror behind her reflecting her back and a framed picture on the wall. The scene is a quiet, domestic moment, rendered with attention to the interplay of light and form.
Technique & Style
Forain employed a range of line qualities in Sur le lit, from sharp and defined to loose and scratchy, to convey both the figure and the surrounding environment. The varied technique gives the impression of a rapid, spontaneous execution.
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.
Femme nue passant sa chemise (Nude Woman Taking Off Her Chemise)
Le repos du modèle (4e planche) (The Model's Rest) (fourth plate)
Intimate Fantasy (Féerie intime)
Evening Wind
Femme mettant son bas (Woman Putting On Her Stockings)
After the Bath (La sortie du bain (Grand planche))
After the Bath (Large Version)
Reclining Female Nude (recto); Architectural Design (verso)
Misery (La Misère)