Artwork

The Suicide

The Suicide, by Jean-Louis Forain, 1892
The Suicide, by Jean-Louis Forain, 1892

The Suicide is a drawing by the Impressionist artist Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Suicide is a drawing by Jean Louis Forain, created in 1892, and is part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a disheveled bedroom, with a sagging bed, scattered clothing, and shoes on the floor, conveying a sense of disorder and desolation.

Technique & Style

Forain's sparse rendering, omitting explicit facial expressions or emotions, is characteristic of Realist art, which emphasizes the unvarnished representation of everyday life.

Context

Forain's use of mundane scenes to convey significant narratives is a hallmark of his artistic approach, inviting viewers to infer the story behind the depicted moment.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Jean-Louis Forain

Artist

Jean-Louis Forain

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.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.