Court Scene 

Jean-Louis Forain sketched this courtroom scene in pencil on paper, likely in France where he worked in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This drawing offers us a glimpse into the social theater of the French legal system. Forain’s sketch uses a visual language of detachment. His figures are divided by benches. They are anonymous, without a clear narrative, inviting us to question the relationship between justice and the individual. The artist made many such sketches as illustrations for newspapers such as Le Figaro. Forain’s presence in popular journals and newspapers reminds us of the vital role of such publications and the emergence of photojournalism in shaping public opinion, influencing social reform, and challenging institutional power. To better understand the scene here, one might consult archives of illustrated newspapers, court records, and social histories of France to explore the complex interplay between art, journalism, and the pursuit of justice in the modern era.