The Departure for Versailles c. 1919

"The Departure for Versailles" is a c. 1919 drawing by Jean-Louis Forain, depicting a woman in a hooded cloak seated on a suitcase, her face etched with sadness and worry. The figure behind her, rendered in faint lines, suggests a second individual perhaps accompanying the woman, adding to the sense of loss and displacement. This piece, likely inspired by the hardships of post-World War I Europe, showcases Forain's signature style, a blend of realism and expressive lines, capturing the essence of human emotion and the realities of a turbulent time.