Read the visual description
The image displays swirling lines and shapes forming an abstract composition. Dark lines in the center suggest figures, resembling people sitting closely. Broad strokes of blues, grays, and browns create a fluid background. The arrangement of colors and forms evokes a connection to a group at sea or on a shoreline, with the fluid shapes emphasizing movement or flow.
National Gallery of Art · Drawing
a) La Guerre sous-Marine. L'ecole des Neutres (recto); b) Study of La Guerre sous-Marine. L'ecole des Neutres (verso)
Jean-Louis Forain
- Date
- c. 1914/1919
- Medium
- a) brush and black ink, black crayon, and watercolor on wove paper b) black crayon and brush and black ink on wove paper
- Dimensions
- overall: 32.8 x 50 cm (12 15/16 x 19 11/16 in.)
- Classification
- Drawing
- Accession number
- 1943.3.4028.a-b
- Credit line
- Rosenwald Collection
- Time span
- 1901 to 1925
- Department
- CG-E
Subjects and terms
- French
- Impressionist
- World War I
- military
Provenance
Lessing J. Rosenwald [1891-1979], Jenkintown, PA; gift to NGA, 1943.
Inscription
"forain" lower right composition, graphite, artist's hand. Not dated. "La Guerre sous-Marine" upper left composition, graphite, artist's hand. "L'ecole des Neutres" lower center margin, graphite, artist's hand. "A 2318" 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
None.
NGA object ID 7146. 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.