Artwork
C'est la Paix. Tu vois pas un kepi!
C'est la Paix. Tu vois pas un kepi! is an ink drawing by Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1919 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1919, this drawing by French artist Jean‑Louis Forain combines brushwork with black ink applied over a black crayon base on wove tracing paper. The composition captures a modest hat shop interior, populated by two figures: a standing customer in a dark coat and flat cap, and a smiling shopkeeper behind a counter surrounded by an assortment of hats.
Subject & Meaning
The title, *C’est la Paix. Tu vois pas un képi?*, translates loosely as “It’s peace. Don’t you see a kepi?” and hints at a satirical comment on the post‑World War I absence of military headgear, suggesting a return to civilian life. The scene’s informal, almost cartoonish rendering underscores the light‑hearted critique.
Technique & Style
Forain employed quick, loose lines and cross‑hatching to build form and shadow, allowing the black crayon underlayer to emerge through the ink. The graphic quality reflects his broader practice in printmaking, where economy of line and stark contrast were central to his visual language.
History & Provenance
The work belongs to the later phase of Forain’s career, a period when he enjoyed considerable commercial success, especially through illustrations and prints. While his reputation has receded relative to some Impressionist contemporaries, this drawing exemplifies his continued engagement with contemporary social themes.
Context
Produced in the immediate aftermath of the Great War, the drawing situates itself within a broader cultural moment of reconstruction and reflection in France. The hat shop, a common urban setting, serves as a microcosm for the nation’s shift from military to civilian concerns.
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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.
Le demobilisé
At The House of Gold (A la maison d'or)
The Hat of Marshall Foch
Trois dessins sur une feuille (Three Drawings on a Sheet)
Les grands concerts de l'opera
a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso)
À la conférence (At the Conference)
Chez l'Huissier
Chez l'huissier (At the Bailiff's)
At the Stock Exchange
The First Vendor of Jourdan and Brown (Le premier vendeur de Jourdan et Brown)
Bredouilles, l'Equipage d'un Zeppelin