The Private Dining Room, Fifth Plate c. 1893

"The Private Dining Room, Fifth Plate" is a charcoal drawing by the French artist Jean-Louis Forain, created in 1893. The drawing depicts a group of people in a dimly lit dining room, with one man engrossed in reading a newspaper, oblivious to the women seated at the table. Forain was known for his satirical depictions of Parisian society, often focusing on the hypocrisy and superficiality of the wealthy elite. This drawing, executed in his signature loose and gestural style, captures the fleeting moments of daily life with a sharp wit and a keen eye for social detail.