Artwork preview

Defenseur et Accuse

Jean-Louis Forain

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a sketch of four people - three adults and one child. The sketch features the upper bodies of the individuals, who are positioned closely together, appearing to be sitting or reclining on a surface. The central figure, an adult with long dark hair, has a stylized face with exaggerated features. The person to their right, also an adult, has a distinct mustache and similarly stylized facial features. Another adult figure to the left is wearing a hat, with facial features etched in shadows. The child is nestled in the arms of the central figure, wrapped in fabric, with their face partially visible. All figures are wearing loosely sketched garments. In the background, there are linear patterns and abstract shapes suggesting an indoor setting with architectural elements such as shelves or walls. The sketch is monochrome, created with dark lines on sepia-toned paper.

Artwork Details

Date
c. 1908
Medium
crayon with graphite additions on brown wove paper
Dimensions
4549 × 3299 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette