Faubourg des Longues Peines (La Pauvre Eglise) 1929

Georges Rouault's print, 'Faubourg des Longues Peines', unfolds like a somber dream, revealing the stark realities of life with expressive mark making. I see a small group making their way up a road towards a building. I can imagine Rouault layering each stroke of ink, building up the weight of the scene, one burdened with what the title suggests: "The Suburb of Long Suffering". The textures are rough, etched with purpose, like scars on the landscape. It's as if he's grappling with something deeply personal, a kind of empathy for the downtrodden. The light from the moon seems to cast a watchful eye, illuminating the path of these figures as they travel into the unknown. Rouault seems to be in conversation with artists like Daumier, who also depicted the plight of the working class with such visceral honesty. Both artists invite us to see the world through the eyes of those who often go unseen. It's a reminder that art can be a powerful means of bearing witness and prompting change.