Encounter Under the Vault 

Jean-Louis Forain created this etching, Encounter Under the Vault, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century, using the etching technique to capture a scene with subtle tones and suggestive lines. The scene depicts an encounter between Christ and common folk, an unusual subject at the time. Forain was known for his social commentary. He often depicted scenes of Parisian life, including the lives of the working class. This biblical reference reflects the rise of social consciousness during the Third Republic in France, when artists increasingly engaged with themes of poverty and justice. The choice of a religious subject, but with common people, can be seen as a progressive statement, critiquing the traditional institutions of both church and art. To fully appreciate Forain’s context, we might delve into the archives of Parisian life, the history of French printmaking, and the rise of social realism in European art.