Jean-Louis Forain (1852-1931) - French Impressionist painter, lithographer, watercolourist and etcher - some examples of his evocative war cartoons.
Forain was born in Reims, Marne, but, at age eight, his family moved to Paris. He studied in Paris with Chevreuse and Carpeaux, and briefly under Gérôme. He was a friend of Manet and Degas, and was invited by the latter to participate in some of the Impressionist exhibitions. In 1876 he began a career as an illustrator, providing drawings and captions for 'Le Figaro' and the 'Courrier français'. He also worked as an etcher and lithographer. After 1900 he turned to religious and legal subjects.
During WWI, Forain put his talent to the service of his country: his drawings strengthened patriotism in the columns of L’Opinion, Le Figaro and Oui. His illustrations evoked shock and were passionately discussed by readers. A cartoon published on 9th January 1915, which featured two soldiers questioning the commitment on the home front, gained a legendary status: “As long as they hold! … Who? The Civilians” (see PC_Forain_0003)
That same year, the 63-year-old artist enlisted in the newly created Camouflage Section of the French Army. Wearing his uniform in 1917, he attended the burial of his close friend Degas who, evoking his future funeral, had said one day: “I don’t want a speech. Well! Forain, you will make one, you will say: he loved to draw.” (Je ne veux pas de discours. Si ! Forain vous en ferez un, vous direz : il aimait le dessin).
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