Artwork
Le prévenu et l'enfant (The Prisoner and the Child)
Le prévenu et l'enfant (The Prisoner and the Child) 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
Le prévenu et l'enfant is an etching on laid Van Gelder paper created by Jean-Louis Forain in 1909. The print is a representative work of Forain's exploration of social themes through various mediums.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a crowded courtroom scene, with a woman holding a child in the foreground and a judge and other figures in the background. The scene reflects Forain's interest in human interactions and everyday life, particularly in a judicial setting.
Technique & Style
Forain employed a technique that allowed ink to accumulate in layers, resulting in dark, textured lines. This approach added depth to the image without relying on smooth shading, contributing to the overall rough and hurried feel of the sketch.
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.
La sortie de l'audience (1ère planche) (Coming Out of the Hearing) (first plate)
Avocat parlant à sa cliente (Lawyer Talking to His Client)
L'avocat parlant au prévenu (2e planche) (The Lawyer Talking to the Prisoner) (second plate)
Late Picquet
La sortie de l'audience (1ère planche) (Coming Out of the Hearing) (first plate)
Témoins à l'audience (2e planche) (Evidence at the Hearing) (second plate)
L'audience (3e planche) (The Hearing) (third plate)