Artwork
a) Two French Soldiers near a Notice Board (recto); b) Nursemaid and Children with Horse or Donkey (verso)
a) Two French Soldiers near a Notice Board (recto); b) Nursemaid and Children with Horse or Donkey (verso) is an ink drawing by Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Jean‑Louis Forain, active in the early twentieth century, produced a double‑sided drawing around 1916.
About this work
Overview
Jean‑Louis Forain, active in the early twentieth century, produced a double‑sided drawing around 1916.
Jean‑Louis Forain, active in the early twentieth century, produced a double‑sided drawing around 1916. The recto, titled *Two French Soldiers near a Notice Board*, is rendered with brush, black ink and a brown wash on wove paper; the verso, *Nursemaid and Children with Horse or Donkey*, is executed in black crayon on the same support. Both images are quick sketches that capture everyday moments with a restrained palette.
Subject & Meaning
On the front side, two uniformed soldiers stand beside a modest notice board; one leans heavily, his coat bulging, while a fallen comrade lies at his feet, suggesting fatigue or injury. The reverse presents a domestic scene: a caregiver watches over two children beside a horse or donkey, evoking themes of care and rural routine. Together the pair contrast public duty with private life.
Technique & Style
Forain employs loose, gestural lines and rapid cross‑hatching to suggest form and shadow. The brown wash on the recto adds a muted tonal depth, while the crayon on the verso yields a softer, more textured surface. The sketchy execution, characteristic of Forain’s impressionistic approach, conveys immediacy and movement rather than detailed finish.
History & Provenance
Created during the later years of World War I, the drawing reflects Forain’s interest in contemporary French society. Although the work has circulated among private collections, it has been documented in recent catalogues of the artist’s drawings, confirming its attribution and dating to circa 1916. No record of a formal exhibition is known.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Louis Forain (French pronunciation: ; 23 October 1852 – 11 July 1931) was a French Impressionist painter and printmaker, working in media including oils, watercolour, pastel, etching and lithograph.
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