Who painted a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso)?

a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso) was painted by Jean-Louis Forain in 1892.

Where can I see a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso)?

a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso)?

a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso)

Jean-Louis Forain , 1892

a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso) is an ink drawing by the Impressionist artist Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

This double-sided drawing, created in 1892 by French artist Jean-Louis Forain, features two distinct scenes on its recto and verso sides. The work showcases Forain's versatility across different media and his ability to capture a range of subjects and emotions.

Subject & Meaning

The recto side depicts a waiter interacting with a customer, a scene of everyday social exchange. In contrast, the verso presents a sketch of a man and woman, characterized by loose, expressive lines and a sense of dynamic movement.

Technique & Style

Forain employed brush and black ink, supplemented by graphite on the recto, to create these drawings on wove paper. The verso's rapid, gestural lines and selective shading convey a sense of spontaneity and emotional intensity, suggesting a quickly captured moment.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jean-Louis Forain

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.