Portrait of Vollard, Seated c. 1910

Jean-Louis Forain drew this portrait of Vollard, seated, using pencil on paper. Look at the hatching, those lovely parallel lines that build up the tone and volume of Vollard's figure. It’s like Forain is thinking through the form, one line at a time, almost caressing the paper with the graphite. The texture of the paper itself becomes part of the drawing, adding to the softness of the image. Notice the way Forain uses varying pressure and direction in his strokes. Around the beard and the eyes, the lines are denser, creating depth and shadow. Then, see how the jacket fades into the background with lighter, sparser marks. It's as if Vollard is emerging from the page, caught in a moment of contemplation. There’s something so direct and immediate about drawing. Think of other draughtsmen like Degas or Daumier, all of whom explored the human form with sensitivity and wit. Forain captures the essence of Vollard, not just his likeness, but a mood, a presence.