Le repos du modèle (4e planche) (The Model's Rest) (fourth plate)

Forain employed both etching and drypoint, allowing him to vary line weight from delicate, fine scratches to bolder, expressive strokes. The brown ink on the textured laid paper creates a subtle chiaroscuro, while the scratchy, almost spontaneous lines convey movement and the fleeting quality of the moment captured.

Created during the later phase of Forain’s career, the print was part of a broader series illustrating artistic life. While Forain enjoyed considerable commercial success in his lifetime, his reputation has fluctuated since, and prints such as this serve as documented evidence of his prolific output in printmaking.

Forain, a French artist associated with Impressionism, worked across oils, watercolor, pastel, etching, and lithography. This print reflects his interest in everyday scenes and the social milieu of the studio, aligning with the Impressionist focus on contemporary life and the candid observation of ordinary moments.