The Private Room (first plate) 

Jean-Louis Forain created this print, “The Private Room,” with lithography. The arrangement of figures and objects around the central table dominates the composition. A tension between intimacy and alienation is created through the varied poses and interactions of the three figures, offset by the stark formality of the table. The lithographic technique emphasizes texture through a dense network of lines and hatching. The artist achieves atmospheric depth and emotional intensity by limiting the tonal range. The stark lighting casts long shadows which not only define the forms, but also add to the scene’s somber mood. Forain's composition can be understood in the context of late 19th-century debates about modernity, class, and representation. The scene captures the sense of unease and moral ambiguity prevalent in modern urban life through its use of understated yet evocative graphic means.