Artwork
If they had been victorious - "You Have Two Hours in which to Sign"
If they had been victorious - "You Have Two Hours in which to Sign" is a drawing by Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1919 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Created around 1919 by French artist Jean Louis Forain, this drawing is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1919 by French artist Jean Louis Forain, this drawing is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. The work’s title, “If they had been victorious – ‘You Have Two Hours in which to Sign,’” hints at a moment of tension linked to conflict or a diplomatic settlement, framing the scene as a brief, decisive interval.
Subject & Meaning
In the foreground, two figures clasp each other tightly; the left figure wears a dark robe while his counterpart is dressed in a lighter garment. Their embrace conveys both relief and urgency. A third presence, rendered in a white uniform with hands clasped behind the back, stands in the background, suggesting an authority figure or negotiator overseeing the encounter.
Technique & Style
Forain employs a stark chiaroscuro, juxtaposing deep shadows with illuminated areas to heighten the emotional charge. The limited palette of muted robes against the bright white uniform accentuates the contrast between the intimate foreground and the formal, detached background, while the drawing’s line work defines the figures with a restrained yet expressive hand.
History & Provenance
The drawing entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the early 20th century, though precise details of its purchase remain sparse. Its dating to the post‑World‑War I period aligns with Forain’s broader engagement with themes of social upheaval and the aftermath of conflict.
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.
a) Si ils avaient vaincu (recto); b) Sketch of Si ils avaient vaincu (verso)
Poilu Acknowledging German Soldier
a) Au front de Vincennes, Bolo pacha (recto); b) Sketch for Au front de Vincennes, Bolo pacha (verso)
C'est la, que j'ai fini le cure
En 1871
Prussian Soldier and Civilians
a) Dead German Soldier (recto); b) Head of a Soldier (verso)
Toward Peace
a) German Soldiers and French Child (recto); b) Woman and Child (verso)
a) Le replis boche (recto); b) Sketch for the Figure of the German (verso)
Poilu Acknowledging German Soldier
Le Fou