Le monde des affaires 

Jean-Louis Forain sketched “Le monde des affaires”, or "The Business World," using graphite and colored pencil. The treasure chest and bags of money in the background are potent symbols of wealth and ambition. They evoke the allure of prosperity, a recurring motif in art history. Think of Renaissance paintings where overflowing coffers symbolized civic pride, or even ancient Roman art depicting cornucopias filled with bounty. Here, these symbols are imbued with a certain cynicism. The title itself, "The Business World," suggests a realm where these symbols of wealth are not just objects of desire, but also instruments of power and perhaps even corruption. The chest is chained shut. This reminds us of the cyclical nature of symbols, how they resurface and evolve, carrying echoes of past meanings while adapting to new contexts, engaging our subconscious with their enduring power.