A la Conference de la Paix 1914 - 1919

Jean-Louis Forain made this drawing using what looks like charcoal or maybe conté crayon, with vigorous, searching marks and subtle tonal gradations on a white paper ground. I can imagine Forain, hunched over his paper, really empathizing with the downtrodden. There is the figure on the left, perhaps a woman, leaning forward with an expression of weary resignation, and the figure on the right, slouched on a bench, also looking worn out. Both figures wear simple clothing, evoking the plight of ordinary people amidst the grand theater of international diplomacy. The lines are scratched and smudged, suggesting both a sense of immediacy and the weight of experience. It’s like he's saying, "I see you, I feel you." Forain reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz, who also had an intense commitment to social justice. These works speak to each other across time, both artists seeking to give voice to those on the margins of power. The artist offers a space to reflect on our shared humanity.