Artwork

There is corn in the sea!

There is corn in the sea!, by Jean-Louis Forain, 1892
There is corn in the sea!, by Jean-Louis Forain, 1892

There is corn in the sea! 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

There is corn in the sea! is a drawing created by Jean Louis Forain in 1892, currently part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts two figures on a beach at dusk: one in a light dress with a bundle, and another in rough attire, leaning forward and gazing downward. The title suggests a playful or whimsical element, potentially referencing an impossibility or joke.

Technique & Style

Characterized by loose, smudgy brushstrokes, the sketch implies a rapid execution, possibly en plein air. Its style aligns with Impressionist tendencies.

History & Provenance

Created in 1892 by Jean Louis Forain, the work is now held in the permanent collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Context

While specific contextual details are scarce, the piece's Impressionist style and outdoor setting place it within late 19th-century European artistic movements emphasizing everyday life and outdoor painting.

Legacy

Limited information suggests the work's legacy is tied to its collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art, with its significance potentially lying in its representation of Forain's style within the broader Impressionist movement.

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.