Butler and Maid Resting 

Jean-Louis Forain created this drawing, "Butler and Maid Resting" with pencil on paper. Notice how Forain employs an economy of line to capture the forms of the figures. The composition guides our eye to the butler first, positioned more upright, his form delineated with slightly darker, firmer lines compared to the maid, whose figure almost dissolves into the background. This contrast in linework subtly underscores the power dynamics at play, even in repose. The upward tilt of their faces, rendered with a few simple strokes, suggests a shared moment of exhaustion or perhaps reverie. Forain, a chronicler of Parisian life, often used such informal sketches to probe beneath the surface of social interactions. In this drawing, the stark simplicity challenges conventional representations of class, inviting us to reflect on the shared humanity of those in service.