To Each His Own 

Jean-Louis Forain created this drawing, "To Each His Own," using graphite on paper. It's a quick, economical medium, suited to capturing fleeting moments – a skill Forain honed as a satirical illustrator for Parisian newspapers. The apparent ease of the drawing belies its social critique. Forain uses a few deft lines to depict a tense encounter: a well-dressed man holding a glass, seemingly interrupted by an intimate moment between a woman and another man. The stark contrast between the detailed figures and the sparse background suggests a world reduced to its essentials: desire, possession, and perhaps, betrayal. Forain's choice of graphite allows for subtle gradations of tone, emphasizing the characters' expressions and gestures. The sketch-like quality hints at the immediacy of modern life, where relationships are often transactional and emotions are laid bare. By focusing on the raw reality of human interactions, Forain challenges traditional artistic conventions, offering a glimpse into the complexities of modern morality. This piece reminds us that even the simplest materials can convey profound social commentary, blurring the lines between observation, craft, and art.