Before the Supper at Emmaus 1910

Jean-Louis Forain made this etching, Before the Supper at Emmaus, in France at the turn of the 20th Century. Forain was influenced by his friend Edgar Degas and like him, was interested in depicting modern life. But whereas Degas focused on the opera or the ballet, Forain became known for his illustrations of Parisian street life and his satirical cartoons. This print depicts a Biblical scene, but Forain deliberately sets it among the urban poor. Using loose strokes, he creates a stark image of deprivation. Those gathered around the table are not idealised Biblical figures, but appear impoverished and weary. It is worth remembering that during the modern period, there was great concern about how religious art could be updated and become relevant for the times. To gain a better appreciation of this artwork, we can look to period sources, such as newspapers and periodicals. By studying the ways in which the urban poor were depicted in French culture, we can understand the role of art as commentary on modern social problems.