Au Piree. -Le depart des boches. c. 1914 - 1919

Jean-Louis Forain made this lithograph, "Au Piree. -Le depart des boches.," using crayon on paper. The lithographic crayon has a greasy quality, allowing the artist to build up dark, rich lines. The artist drew the scene and its characters with these strokes, but we can only guess at the amount of labour involved in the production process. The technique is a printmaking process that involves drawing an image on a flat stone or metal plate, treating it with chemicals, and then printing from the treated surface. Here, the lithographic process has imbued the artwork with a sense of immediacy, capturing the essence of the scene with directness and vigor. The use of lithography would have allowed for the creation of multiple copies of the image, making it accessible to a wider audience. Forain was engaging with a wider social issue of war and politics, highlighting labor, class and consumption. Considering the materials, making, and context helps understand the meaning of this artwork, challenging any divide between fine art and craft.