Two Soldiers Looking at a Placard c. 1918

Jean-Louis Forain drew these two soldiers looking at a placard, we don't know exactly when, in pencil. The scribbly, searching lines feel almost like a conversation, one mark leading to another. He's not trying to hide the process; it's all right there on the surface. Look at the way the lines build up around the soldier's faces and uniforms. It's not about perfect representation but about capturing a feeling, a moment. The texture of the pencil on paper gives it a raw, immediate quality. The lack of color focuses our attention on the form and the relationships between the figures. See the gesture of one soldier's hand on the other's shoulder? It's a simple, human touch amidst the harsh reality of war. This reminds me of Kathe Kollwitz, who explored similar themes of grief and resilience through drawing and printmaking. It's a reminder that art doesn't always need to be grand or polished; sometimes, the most powerful statements are the ones made with the simplest of means.