En 1871 c. 1914 - 1919

Jean-Louis Forain made this work, En 1871, using graphite. It’s quick and gestural, look at how the figures seem to be emerging from the page. I can imagine Forain, with his keen eye and rapid hand, capturing a moment heavy with emotion. The lines are economic, but they speak volumes. I wonder what it must have been like to witness such scenes of defeat and despair? Notice the detail of the officer and how the dark shading creates a sense of foreboding and determination, while the other figure almost fades into the background. It reminds me of other works by artists such as Goya, who also explored the darker aspects of humanity. In their work, you can feel the artists wrestling with their own relationship to society and the world. It’s a messy, complex process of trying to make sense of things through line and form.