Read the visual description
The image shows three full-body figures in a monochromatic style. On the left, a standing woman looks downward towards a seated man in the center, who is hunched over. Beside him is a child, looking at the man's hands which hold an object resembling a plate. The figures are dressed in long, simple garments. The background suggests a sparse room with a possible table. French text is included above and below the figures.
National Gallery of Art · Drawing
a) Ludus pro Populo (recto); b) Head of a Man (verso)
Jean-Louis Forain
- Medium
- a) black crayon on wove paper b) black crayon on wove paper
- Dimensions
- overall: 42 x 29.7 cm (16 9/16 x 11 11/16 in.)
- Classification
- Drawing
- Accession number
- 1943.3.3912.a-b
- Credit line
- Rosenwald Collection
- Time span
- 1851 to 1875
- Department
- CG-E
Subjects and terms
- French
- amusement
- genre
- Impressionist
Provenance
Lessing J. Rosenwald [1891-1979], Jenkintown, PA; gift to NGA, 1943.
Inscription
"forain" lower right composition, black crayon, artist's hand. Not dated. "Ludus pro populo" upper right margin, black crayon, artist's hand. "-qu 'est-ce que vous faites? / -On joue a faire semblant de manager!" lower center composition, black crayon, artist's hand. "10" lower center margin, graphite, unknown hand. "Reduire à 21 de haut" lower right margin, graphite, artist's hand. "587" lower right margin, graphite, unknown hand. Verso: none.
Marks
"LRJ" verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 1760b). "National Gallery of Art" verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 1932d).
Watermarks
"j l.forain"
NGA object ID 7030. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.