Sur le Rhin. -maintenant c'est l'arriere.

Art Historical Context

Jean-Louis Forain's *Sur le Rhin. -maintenant c'est'arrière* (On the Rhine. -Now It's the Rear), likely created around 1918 captures a poignant moment at the close of World War I. French and Allied forces advanced into Germany, occupying the Rhineland after the Armistice, the Rhine River marked a new boundary. Forain, a French artist known for his Impressionist influences, satirical illustrations, and vivid depictions of modern life, served as an official war artist. This drawing reflects the shifting tides of conflict, with the wry subtitle suggesting relief or irony as the front lines recede, transforming the Rhine from a distant goal into a rear-guard position. Executed in black crayon and graphite with black and gray wash on laid paper (31.5 x 47.4 cm), the work showcases Forain's masterful draftsmanship. The mixed media allowed for dynamic contrasts—crisp lines for structure and fluid washes for atmospheric depth—evoking the immediacy of on-site sketches. Laid paper, with its subtle texture, enhanced the tactile quality, ideal for expressive wartime reportage. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Rosenwald Collection, this drawing offers a rare glimpse into Forain's wartime output, blending observation with subtle commentary on the human cost and absurdity of war. It's a testament to how artists documented history's turning points, inviting us to reflect on peace's fragile arrival.

About the Artist

Jean-Louis Forain · 1852–1931

Jean-Louis Forain was born Louis Henri Forain on October 23, 1852, in Reims, France, to a family of modest means; his father painted ornamental signs. The family relocated to Paris when he was eight, where young Forain developed a passion for drawing inspired by the sculptures of Reims Cathedral and the masters at the Louvre, which he began copying at age fourteen. He received drawing lessons from...