Unwed Mother (first plate) 1909

Jean-Louis Forain made this drypoint titled "Unwed Mother" sometime in his lifetime. The whole scene is built up from a mesh of marks, like tangled threads, that suggest these worn out figures. The lines feel raw and immediate, full of hesitancy and uncertainty. Look at the way he renders the dress of the figure at the back, it’s all done with these frantic lines, pulled every which way. There is a vulnerability to the way he leaves the marks exposed; you feel the scratching of the needle across the plate. The faces of the figures blend into one another. It’s hard to distinguish individual expressions, beyond this shared sense of weariness. You can see the influence of someone like Daumier in his work, there is a similar interest in the everyday life of ordinary people and a keen eye for social critique. Ultimately, Forain's print invites us to reflect on themes of social inequality and human suffering, but leaves space for multiple interpretations and perspectives.