Sur le canape 

Jean-Louis Forain sketched "Sur le canapé" with pen and brown ink and gray wash, capturing a scene of leisure and social interaction. The figures reclining on what appears to be a park bench, evoke a sense of languor, inviting contemplation on the transience of time. The umbrella held aloft, a symbol of protection and status, is a motif that dates back to ancient civilizations, like in Persepolis, where it shielded royalty from the sun. Here, it reappears in a modern context, shielding figures from the rain. The bench itself, a place of rest and repose, contrasts sharply with images of toil and suffering found in earlier art. It echoes, yet transforms, the classical motif of the sarcophagus as seen in Roman art. This evolution reflects a shift in cultural values, from a focus on the afterlife to a celebration of earthly pleasures. This image connects us to the endless cycle of human experience.