Jean Louis Forain (French, 1852-1931)
'Le verre d'eau'

black ink and watercolour

Dimensions: 38.5 x 38.5 cm (15 x 15 in.)

Galerie Schmidt, Paris;
Private Collection, Paris;
Sale; Societe Thierry de Maigret SARL, Paris 16 June 2021, lot 84 where purchased by the current owner.

Jean-Louis Forain worked alongside several prominent artists of the Impressionist movement, including his close friend Edgar Degas, who greatly influenced his style and subject matter. Like Degas, Forain was drawn to scenes of modern urban life, particularly the theatre, ballet, and café society. He also exhibited with the Impressionists in several of their group shows and maintained connections with artists such as Édouard Manet and Claude Monet. Forain's work bridged the gap between fine art and illustration, and he often brought a sharper, more satirical edge to the themes explored by his contemporaries.