The Model's Rest (fourth plate) 1909

Jean-Louis Forain made this etching, The Model’s Rest, sometime in his career. The whole thing’s kind of scribbly, like a quick thought jotted down in ink – or rather, scratched into a plate. It’s all about the line here. Look at how dense and dark it gets in the background, and then how sparse and light on the model’s body. It gives her this dreamy, floating quality. The etching feels immediate, like we’re catching a glimpse of something private, maybe even a bit illicit. The way the lines build up around the edges – like a storm of ink – makes the figures feel like they’re emerging from the shadows. That reminds me of the way Degas used to work, always playing with edges and atmosphere. And, like Degas, Forain’s not afraid to leave things unresolved, letting the process show through. It’s like he’s saying, “Here’s a moment, a feeling, not a perfect picture.”