Jean-Louis Forain

(French, 1852–1931)

Jean-Louis Forain was a French Impressionist known for his paintings and etchings of Parisian nightlife, operas, and cafes. In his painting Tight-Rope Walker (c. 1885), Forain employed similar techniques to those used by his friend Edgar Degas, including flecks of bright color, a blurred background, and isolated moments of sharp detail. “He is the poet of corruption in evening clothes, of dandyism in the boudoirs, of high life masking empty hearts,” the critic Octave Maus once wrote of him. Born on October 23, 1852 in Reims, France, he moved with his family to Paris at the age of eleven and later studied under Jean-Léon Gérôme at the École des Beaux-Arts. Turned down by the Salon in 1874, Forain began frequenting the Café Guerbois, where he met Édouard Manet and Degas, whose work greatly influenced his own. Forain was also friends with a number of writers, such as Arthur Rimbaud, Paul Verlaine, and Joris-Karl Huysmans. The artist began addressing more political subjects later in his life, and contributed illustrations to a number of major periodicals. He notably served as a camouflage artist and cartoonist during World War I, and was lauded for his patriotism during the conflict. The artist died on July 11, 1931 in Paris, France. Today, Forain’s works are held in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, and the National Gallery in London, among others.

Jean-Louis Forain Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Jean-Louis Forain (1,645 results)
Madame Blanche d'Honcourt au bal masqué à...

Jean-Louis Forain

Madame Blanche d'Honcourt au bal masqué à...

Sale Date: October 22, 2003

Auction Closed

Scène de café, 1895–1895

Jean-Louis Forain

Scène de café, 1895–1895

Sale Date: October 21, 2003

Auction Closed

Étude de deux femmes dansant

Jean-Louis Forain

Étude de deux femmes dansant

Sale Date: September 18, 2003

Auction Closed

Personnes en attente

Jean-Louis Forain

Personnes en attente

Sale Date: September 11, 2003

Auction Closed

Après le spectacle, 1910–1910

Jean-Louis Forain

Après le spectacle, 1910–1910

Sale Date: September 11, 2003

Auction Closed

Dans le monde, 1900–1900

Jean-Louis Forain

Dans le monde, 1900–1900

Sale Date: June 30, 2003

Auction Closed

Dans les coulisses

Jean-Louis Forain

Dans les coulisses

Sale Date: June 27, 2003

Auction Closed

Le chagrin

Jean-Louis Forain

Le chagrin

Sale Date: June 27, 2003

Auction Closed

Scène de rue

Jean-Louis Forain

Scène de rue

Sale Date: June 20, 2003

Auction Closed

Bildnis des Schauspielers C. B...., 1878–1878

Jean-Louis Forain

Bildnis des Schauspielers C. B...., 1878–1878

Sale Date: June 4, 2003

Auction Closed

La danseuse et sa mère

Jean-Louis Forain

La danseuse et sa mère

Sale Date: May 23, 2003

Auction Closed

Danseuse au voile

Jean-Louis Forain

Danseuse au voile

Sale Date: May 14, 2003

Auction Closed

Le dialogue

Jean-Louis Forain

Le dialogue

Sale Date: May 8, 2003

Auction Closed

Chez le modiste, 1889–1889

Jean-Louis Forain

Chez le modiste, 1889–1889

Sale Date: April 29, 2003

Auction Closed

Scène de ballet, 1906–1906

Jean-Louis Forain

Scène de ballet, 1906–1906

Sale Date: April 24, 2003

Auction Closed

Monsieur est absent

Jean-Louis Forain

Monsieur est absent

Sale Date: April 21, 2003

Auction Closed

Un couple près d'une porte

Jean-Louis Forain

Un couple près d'une porte

Sale Date: March 27, 2003

Auction Closed

Two young girls, an elderly man and a curé

Jean-Louis Forain

Two young girls, an elderly man and a curé

Sale Date: March 26, 2003

Auction Closed

Jeune fille attristée

Jean-Louis Forain

Jeune fille attristée

Sale Date: March 25, 2003

Auction Closed

La leçon de chant

Jean-Louis Forain

La leçon de chant

Sale Date: March 25, 2003

Auction Closed

Après le spectacle, 1910–1910

Jean-Louis Forain

Après le spectacle, 1910–1910

Sale Date: March 20, 2003

Auction Closed

La dessinatrice

Jean-Louis Forain

La dessinatrice

Sale Date: March 12, 2003

Auction Closed

Femme de profil

Jean-Louis Forain

Femme de profil

Sale Date: March 5, 2003

Auction Closed

Éventail pour la bal Gavarni, 1903–1903

Jean-Louis Forain

Éventail pour la bal Gavarni, 1903–1903

Sale Date: March 4, 2003

Auction Closed

English (US)

©2024 Artnet Worldwide Corporation. All rights reserved.