Jean-Louis Forain lived from 1852 to 1931 and knew or saw all the great artists of that period. That's apparent from start to finish of this show of over 200 of his works on paper, paintings and even one stained-glass piece. The texts say this was satirical work that appeared in among other publications Le Figaro and the New York Herald, I saw them not so much mocking the bourgoisie as reflecting it.
While I have problems with someone like Zelda Fitzgerald who imitated Maurice Prendergast sheep-like or George Sisley, where once you've seen one - a la Spiro T. Agnew - you've "seen 'em all," Forain certainly was influenced by Degas, Daumier and Toulouse-Lautrec, among others, but, again, I felt he was reflective not imitative. And vs Sisley, if you've seen one Forain at the Courtauld or Brooklyn or National, you've seen one.
2 Wows: in my book the most under-rated show of the year.
Recent Comments