Artwork
Scène de cabinet particulier (planche en hauteur) (Scene in a Private Room) (vertical plate)
Scène de cabinet particulier (planche en hauteur) (Scene in a Private Room) (vertical plate) is an ink print by Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1905 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1905, *Scène de cabinet particulier (planche en hauteur)* is a vertical transfer lithograph on laid paper by French artist Jean‑Louis Forain.
Created circa 1905, *Scène de cabinet particulier (planche en hauteur)* is a vertical transfer lithograph on laid paper by French artist Jean‑Louis Forain. Known primarily for his paintings and drawings, Forain applied his quick, sketch‑like line work to this print, which captures a fleeting moment inside a private interior. The work exemplifies his late‑career interest in intimate, everyday scenes rendered with a light, observational touch.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a man in a dark coat leaning over a seated, nude woman. She reaches upward toward his face with one hand while the man holds a hat in the other, creating a tension between intimacy and awkwardness. The figures’ poses suggest a shy, perhaps hesitant encounter, emphasizing a brief, emotionally charged instant rather than a narrative tableau.
Technique & Style
Forain employed transfer lithography, a process that allows the artist to draw on a prepared stone or plate and then transfer the image onto paper, preserving the immediacy of a sketch. Executed on laid paper, the print features loose, rapid lines and minimal shading, reinforcing the sense of a hurried study. The style aligns with Forain’s broader oeuvre, marked by fluid drawing and a focus on contemporary life.
History & Provenance
The lithograph was produced during the latter phase of Forain’s career, a period when his prints enjoyed commercial success despite a later decline in critical reputation. While specific ownership records are sparse, the work is catalogued among Forain’s printed output and appears in several museum collections that document early 20th‑century French graphic art.
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.
En cabinet particulier (1ère planche) (In a Private Room) (first plate)
Scène de cabinet particulier (planche en largeur) (Scene in a Private Room) (horizontal plate)
En cabinet particulier (1ère planche) (In a Private Room) (first plate)
En cabinet particulier (3e planche) (In a Private Room) (third plate)
Le cabinet particulier (4e planche) (The Private Room) (fourth plate)
Le cabinet particulier (1ère planche) (The Private Room) (first plate)