In the Bathroom 

Jean-Louis Forain made this drawing, titled "In the Bathroom", with a graphite pencil. Here we see two women, one in a dressing gown, the other in a fashionable fur-trimmed coat and hat. The drawing, made sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century in France, captures a moment of intimacy, but also of social tension. Forain was known for his depictions of Parisian life, often focusing on the lives of women, particularly those on the margins of society. Consider the setting: a bathroom, a private space, yet one that also speaks to the rituals of beauty and hygiene that were becoming increasingly important in modern urban life. The contrast between the two women is striking. One is exposed, vulnerable, while the other is shielded by layers of clothing and social status. What could their relationship be? Is this a moment of friendship, or perhaps a transaction of some kind? As historians, we can look to sources such as fashion magazines, social commentaries, and police records to better understand the lives of women in Forain's Paris and the social conditions that shaped their experiences. By doing so, we can appreciate how this seemingly simple drawing opens a window onto a complex world of gender, class, and power.