Sur le Rhin c. 1914 - 1919

Jean-Louis Forain made this drawing of two soldiers, one standing guard with his rifle and the other sitting on the ground, probably with charcoal on paper. You know, you can almost feel Forain’s hand moving swiftly across the page. The scene emerges rapidly, yet with acute detail. The figures are defined by decisive, energetic marks which give a sense of urgency. It’s like he's grabbing the moment before it disappears! I can imagine Forain, sketching in real time, capturing the stillness and anxiety of the moment for these soldiers. The standing guard, his body tense, his gaze fixed in the distance… What is he thinking? What do you think he’s thinking? The other man looks up towards the sky, and seems to be taking a moment of peace. It is this contrast which brings a sense of the real to the work. Painters are always in conversation with each other across time. They are constantly looking, learning and building on each other's work to create something new. It's all about a language of mark-making, rhythm, texture, and feeling. It's like a visual dance that transcends words.