Artwork
Le repas à Emmaus (3e planche) (The Supper at Emmaus) (third plate)
Le repas à Emmaus (3e planche) (The Supper at Emmaus) (third plate) is an ink print by Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Le repas à Emmaus (3e planche) is a 1910 print by French artist Jean-Louis Forain, executed in etching and drypoint on laid Van Gelder paper. The work represents a biblical scene in Forain's distinctive style, characteristic of his contributions to the Impressionist movement.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts the Supper at Emmaus, a biblical narrative. The composition features three figures in a dimly lit interior: one seated with bowed head, another leaning over, and a third standing behind with arms crossed. Soft, faint light enters through a window, contrasting with the dark walls.
Technique & Style
Forain employed etching and drypoint techniques. The drypoint method created deep, textured backgrounds, while loose, scratchy lines throughout the piece evoke a sense of immediacy and spontaneity, lending the scene a dynamic, unfinished quality.
History & Provenance
Created in 1910, the print reflects Forain's versatility across mediums (including oils, watercolor, and lithography). Although commercially successful in his time, his reputation has waned compared to other Impressionist contemporaries.
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.
