Three Sketches of Women and Children 

Jean-Louis Forain made this pen and ink wash drawing called "Three Sketches of Women and Children." It’s easy to see that Forain was influenced by Daumier and Degas. Working in Paris, Forain captured the spirit of urban life, often turning his eye to the lives of working-class people. Look at the posture of the figures, which suggests they may have been drawn from the streets of Paris. We can tell from the women’s clothing and facial features that they are poor, and that life is not easy. The sketch is particularly poignant, as it captures a fleeting moment in time. It makes us reflect on the social conditions that shaped the lives of these women and children, and the ways in which poverty can affect our sense of identity. Historical sources tell us that Forain was a political cartoonist, so we might expect him to have a progressive outlook. But his images also seem to perpetuate stereotypes about class and gender. Historians must always be aware of the artist's point of view, and the potential for bias in their work.