Artwork
Avocat compulsant un dossier (Lawyer Going through a Brief)
Avocat compulsant un dossier (Lawyer Going through a Brief) is an ink print by Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1909 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Avocat compulsant un dossier (Lawyer Going through a Brief) is a 1909 print by French artist Jean-Louis Forain, executed in etching and drypoint on wove paper in brown tones.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a weary lawyer immersed in legal documents, with a woman in the background similarly engaged. The scene reflects Forain's fascination with urban life and social contemporary themes.
Technique & Style
Forain employed etching and drypoint techniques, characterized by scratchy, thick lines that evoke a sense of urgency. The drypoint method, which involves carving into a metal plate, created sharp, tangled lines with a rough texture.
History & Provenance
Created in 1909, the print is part of Forain's broader oeuvre, which spanned multiple mediums. While relatively successful during his lifetime, Forain's reputation has waned since.
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.
Avocat compulsant un dossier (Lawyer Going through a Brief)
L'avocat invectivé (The Lawyer Abused)
L'Avocat Parlant au prevenu
Reading of the Barrister's Brief
L'avocat parlant au prévenu (1ère planche) (The Lawyer Talking to the Prisoner) (first plate)
Scène d'audience (les deux avocats) (Scene of a Hearing (The Two Lawyers))