Poilu Acknowledging German Soldier c. 1918

Jean-Louis Forain made this drawing of a Poilu acknowledging a German soldier at some point between 1852 and 1931 using graphite on paper. It's all about these raw, immediate marks, you know? The kind that just spills out of you. I love how Forain uses the pencil to suggest form and depth with these quick, scribbly lines. Like, look at the Poilu's arm – the shading is so gestural, so alive. And then there's the German soldier, rendered with this delicate, almost tentative touch. The texture of the paper peeks through, giving it this incredible lightness. It's like he's capturing a fleeting moment, a sense of uncertainty and humanity amidst the chaos of war. These two soldiers are each other's shadow, and this piece reminds me of Kathe Kollwitz's stark depictions of war and grief. Both artists share this ability to find empathy in the darkest of places, reminding us that art can be a powerful act of witness and remembrance.