Artwork
Les notables (grande planche) (The Notables) (large plate)
Les notables (grande planche) (The Notables) (large plate) is an ink print by Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1915 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Jean-Louis Forain’s print *Les notables (grande planche)* dates from roughly 1915. Executed as an etching combined with drypoint on laid paper, the work presents a small group of five figures moving together, rendered with the loose, sketch‑like lines characteristic of Forain’s printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows five individuals—one man in a tall hat and long coat clutching a cane, two other men in heavy outerwear, and a woman accompanied by a child. Their bundled attire and the brisk, informal rendering suggest a moment of everyday urban life, perhaps commenting on the social standing of the figures depicted.
Technique & Style
Forain employed both etching and drypoint on a metal plate. The drypoint incisions produce deep, burr‑laden lines that hold ink densely, giving the image a tactile, rough quality. The overall effect is a rapid, sketch‑like drawing transferred to paper, emphasizing movement and immediacy.
History & Provenance
Forain, a French artist associated with the Impressionist circle, was active in painting, watercolor, pastel, etching, and lithography. While he enjoyed considerable commercial success during his lifetime, his posthumous reputation has not kept pace with that of some of his contemporaries.
Context
Created near the end of Forain’s career, the print reflects his continued interest in urban scenes and social observation. The use of etching and drypoint aligns with early 20th‑century French print traditions, where artists explored the expressive potential of line and texture.
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 route d'Emmaüs (1ère planche) (The Road to Emmaus) (first plate)
Témoins à l'audience (2e planche) (Evidence at the Hearing) (second plate)
The Slavery in the North
The Proverbs: Carnival Folly
Temoins à l'audience
Burial in the Vendeen Marsh (Un enterrement dans le marais Vendeen)
La Ronde
Tinkers
The Triumph of Death: Proclamation (Le triomphe de la mort: La proclamation)
The Flight into Egypt: Crossing a Brook
Group of Figures
Les notables (petite planche) (The Notables) (small plate)