Jean Louis Forain n.d.

This is Théophile Alexandre Steinlen’s drawing of Jean Louis Forain, its date unknown, but rendered in charcoal. The direct gaze in portraiture is an ancient device, meant to engage the viewer, to establish a connection. We see it echoed through time, from ancient Roman busts to Renaissance paintings, each instance subtly altering the dialogue. Think of those early sculpted Roman heads, their eyes, though stone, fixated, asserting the sitter’s presence and authority. Jump ahead, and you see the Mona Lisa, her gaze softer yet equally compelling, drawing you into her enigmatic world. This act of looking has always been a dance of power, vulnerability, and invitation. The eyes here tell a story of a man present, unflinching. This drawing, therefore, isn't merely a depiction; it's an encounter.