Poilu Acknowledging German Soldier c. 1918

This drawing by Jean-Louis Forain is all about tentative lines, scribbled and smudged across the paper. It shows two soldiers, one French, one German, in a landscape of war. I imagine Forain hunched over this piece of paper, charcoal in hand, trying to capture the weight of the moment. What does it feel like to acknowledge your enemy? The French soldier’s arm juts out, like a sharp, accusing shape. Is he offering help, or is there threat in the gesture? The German soldier seems defeated, slouching inwards. You can see Forain grappling with the uncertainty and anxiety of the scene. The lines feel like they’re searching, shifting, never quite settling. The background fades into a smoky blur. I wonder how the work of other artists who have captured war inspired him? I see Goya in this piece. Paintings aren’t just about showing what’s there, but feeling it too.