The Meeting under the Arch (first plate) 1910

Jean-Louis Forain made this etching, probably in the late 19th or early 20th century, with a kind of restless, searching line. It’s all about the process of looking. There's a lot of bare space here, which is important. Forain doesn't fill it in, leaving the scene open. I particularly love the way the archway frames the figures and the landscape beyond. The marks feel urgent and immediate, like he's trying to capture a fleeting moment, a secret exchange. You can almost feel the scratch of the needle on the plate. The lack of detail actually adds to the emotional impact, making it more about suggestion than description. The way Forain uses line reminds me of Daumier, but with a more anxious energy. Both artists were masters of capturing the human condition with just a few strokes. It feels like the beginning of something, an invitation to imagine what happens next. Art isn't about answers, it's about the questions it provokes, right?