Artwork
Discharged from Military Service
Discharged from Military Service is an ink drawing by Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1916, *Discharged from Military Service* is a drawing by French artist Jean‑Louis Forain. Executed with brush, black ink and black crayon on laid paper, the work measures a modest size and exemplifies Forain’s facility across media. It captures a brief, intimate scene that reflects the artist’s interest in contemporary social conditions.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents two men in informal attire: a standing figure leans on a cane, his back turned to the viewer, while a seated companion slumps in a chair, hand supporting his head. A discarded hat and coat lie nearby, suggesting a moment of fatigue or resignation, possibly alluding to the experience of soldiers returning from service.
Technique & Style
Forain employs rapid, uneven lines that verge on scribble, creating a sense of immediacy. Cross‑hatching and dense shading render shadows on clothing and the cane, while the blurred facial features convey motion rather than precise likeness. The graphic quality aligns with his broader practice of using bold ink work to convey social narratives.
History & Provenance
*Discharged from Military Service* reflects his later period, when he turned increasingly toward drawing as a means of documenting everyday life.
Jean‑Louis Forain, a French Impressionist noted for his paintings, watercolors, pastels, etchings and lithographs, achieved considerable commercial success during his lifetime, outpacing many of his contemporaries. *Discharged from Military Service* reflects his later period, when he turned increasingly toward drawing as a means of documenting everyday life. The drawing’s ownership record remains limited, with no major museum acquisition documented to date.
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.
a) Waiter and Customer (recto); b) Sketch of a Man and Woman (verso)
Interieur mit Stehlampe (Interior with Floor Lamp)
La retour (The Return)
Le demobilise
Children Looking over the Edge of a Crib
The Economic Withdrawal
Hospital Scene
Le petit déjeuner (planche en largeur) (Breakfast) (horizontal plate)
At the Peace Conference
a) Bolo pacha (recto); Study for Bolo pacha (verso)
Terror of Grenelle (La terreur de Grenelle)
Le démobilisé