Scène de cabinet particulier (planche en largeur au lavis) (Scene in a Private Room) (horizontal plate with wash)

Forain employed a lithographic process using brown and black inks, applying a wash (lavis) to blur edges and create tonal gradations. The use of wove paper provides a slightly textured surface that enhances the subtle tonal shifts, while the limited palette reinforces the muted, nocturnal ambience typical of his late‑19th‑century prints.

The work belongs to Forain’s mature period, when he was a prolific printmaker alongside his painting practice. Though popular with contemporary audiences, his reputation has since receded relative to some Impressionist peers. The print is currently held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, where it is displayed among other French prints of the era.

Forain’s print reflects the influence of his Parisian contemporaries, notably Henri de Toulouse‑Lautrec, whose own lithographs often depicted intimate interiors and social scenes. The piece aligns with the broader trend in late 19th‑century French art toward capturing fleeting, everyday moments through the immediacy of print media.