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59 - Jean-Louis FORAIN (1852–1931)
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Estimate €25,000 - €35,000
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Description
Jean-Louis FORAIN (1852–1931) The Races at Longchamp – circa 1885 Pastel on paper Signed lower right ‘forain’ 43 x 38.5 cm Provenance: Probably a public auction, United States, 1995 Probably Hopkins Custot Gallery, London Gérard Valkier Collection, Netherlands Acquired from the latter by the current owner in July 2015 Louis Grandchamp des Raux Collection Exhibitions: Paris, Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris, Jean-Louis Forain 1852–1931, ‘La Comédie Parisienne’, March–June 2011, no. 71 reproduced on p. 242 Bibliography: We would like to thank Mrs Florence Valdès-Forain for kindly confirming that the work will be included in the catalogue raisonné of Jean-Louis Forain’s work, currently in preparation. Pastel on paper, signed lower right, 16 7/8 x 15 1/8 in. A tireless observer of the capital, Jean-Louis Forain explored both the secret recesses of the opera house and the bustling urban scenes of the Grands Boulevards. Alongside Verlaine and Rimbaud, the artist led a bohemian life. The circles of Parisian high society and the nightlife of Montmartre provided inexhaustible sources of inspiration. Although Forain illustrated the world of horse racing for the press, he painted only a dozen or so canvases on this theme. His approach here is that of a chronicler more interested in the spectators than in the racecourse itself. Forain takes pleasure in depicting journalists, punters, jockeys, trainers, elegant ladies and demi-mondaines, offering an unvarnished portrayal of this milieu characterised by networks of influence and power struggles. The subject of this work is movement: that of the man leaning towards an elegant young woman in the foreground, no doubt with the aim of seducing her. In a tight and daring composition, the artist sketches the two figures with their backs to the race, suggesting, not without humour, that horse racing serves as a pretext for romantic encounters amongst Parisian high society. In this pastel, Forain demonstrates that he has fully assimilated the lessons of Degas and Manet. It was indeed thanks to the influence of Edgar Degas that Forain began using pastels from 1878 onwards. This technique is perfectly suited to the graphic effect sought by Forain, who accurately captures the social interactions of modern society. A certificate of provenance from Madame Florence Valdès-Forain may be issued on request and at the purchaser’s expense. Jean-Louis FORAIN (1852–1931) 43 x 38.5 cm A tireless observer of the capital, Jean-Louis Forain explored the hidden corners of the opera house just as often as the city scenes of the Grands Boulevards. Alongside Verlaine and Rimbaud, the artist led a bohemian lifestyle. The circles of Parisian high society, like the nightlife in Montmartre, were inexhaustible sources of inspiration. Although Forain illustrated the world of horse racing for the press, he painted only a dozen works on this theme. His approach was that of a chronicler who was more interested in the crowds than the racecourse. Forain liked to portray the journalists, the gamblers, the jockeys, the trainers, the elegant women and the demimondaines, offering an unvarnished portrayal of this world, characterised by spheres of influence and power dynamics. The true subject of this work is movement: that of the man leaning towards an elegant young woman in the foreground, no doubt in the hope of seducing her. With a boldly tight framing of the composition, the artist sketches these two figures with their backs to the race, showing – not without humour – that for Parisian high society, horse racing was a pretext for romantic encounters. In this pastel, Forain demonstrates that he had largely assimilated the lessons of both Degas and Manet. It was, in fact, thanks to the influence of Edgar Degas that Forain took up pastel from 1878 onwards. This technique was perfectly suited to the visual effect sought by Forain, who faithfully captured the social interactions of modern society.
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About the sale The Louis Grandchamp des Raux Collection
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 4:00 PM
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