Le replis boche c. 1914 - 1919

Jean-Louis Forain made "Le replis boche" with quick strokes of pencil and wash. You get the sense that he’s right there on the street, capturing a fleeting moment. Look at how he uses these transparent washes to suggest the figures. It’s all about gesture and implication, like a memory fading in and out. The colour palette is muted, mostly greys and browns, which gives it a somber, documentary feel. But then, there's the abrupt addition of a splash of green, which catches your eye and animates the earth tone. The faces are barely there, just smudges of ink, which adds to the sense of anonymity. Yet, somehow, Forain manages to convey so much emotion, a weariness, a sense of displacement. The marks are quick, almost anxious, as if he’s trying to capture something before it disappears. Like Degas, Forain is interested in realism but with an immediacy, like an illustration from life. The beauty is in the roughness, the imperfections. It’s not about perfection, it’s about feeling.