Young Woman Seated at a Piano [verso] c. 1890

Jean-Louis Forain made this drawing of a young woman at a piano, using graphite on paper. The sketch gives us a glimpse into the private sphere of the Parisian bourgeoisie. In late 19th-century France, the ability to play the piano was a common accomplishment for women of a certain social class. It signified refinement and provided a socially acceptable outlet for creativity, while also being a means of attracting a suitable husband. Forain often depicted scenes of Parisian life, and this drawing captures a common activity associated with middle-class women, within the domestic space. Art historians might consider this drawing in relation to the broader social history of women and music, referring to etiquette manuals and domestic journals of the period. The drawing encapsulates the complex interplay of gender, class, and artistic expression in 19th-century France, and the institutional structures of the time.