Avant le repas à Emmaus (1ère planche) (Before the Supper at Emmaus) (first plate)

Jean-Louis Forain

National Gallery of Art

The image depicts a group of five individuals in a sketch drawing. Four figures are seated, with two on the left side and two on the right. One person stands in the center leaning over a table. The person standing is shown in profile with their head bent slightly forward. Facial features are not clearly defined due to the sketch style. On the right side, a seated figure resembles Jesus with long hair and a beard, draped in clothing that pools around bare feet. Next to them, another seated person has long hair. On the left side, two figures are seated—one is a child on a woman's lap, both looking towards the center. The clothing is loose and flowing, depicted with sketchy lines. The background is plain, lacking additional context. The sketch is done in a linear style with sparse details, focusing on the figures' positioning and clothing.