A la table de jeu (1ère planche) (At the Gambling Table) (first plate)

Forain combined traditional etching with dry‑point, allowing him to render both fine linear detail and richer, velvety burr lines. The wove paper surface enhances the contrast between the crisp etched outlines of the furniture and the softer, more expressive marks of the dry‑point figures. This hybrid approach yields a texture that conveys movement and the tactile clutter of cards and glassware.

The print was produced during the later phase of Forain’s career, a period when he enjoyed considerable commercial success and frequent exhibition of his prints. While his reputation has waned compared with some of his Impressionist contemporaries, the work remains documented in several museum collections and auction records, attesting to its continued scholarly interest.