Jean Louis Forain Art

Born in Reims, Jean Louis Forain (Born 1852) was an illustrator, printmaker and painter. He was among the leading artist in Paris during his time. He actually moved to Paris around 1860 together with his family. Louis Forain produced so many pieces of art while in Paris and was a respected artist in France and beyond. He had an outgoing personality that made it possible for him to win many contracts and to work with different people. He therefore had a network of clients from far and wide. Even today, his art has found its way into many institutions and buildings. This is particularly true for the ready to hang framed Jean Louis Forain art. These are very popular because they can be used to decorate any space and come in different frame colors to satisfy the varying needs of clients. Many collectors stock his art for this simple reason. While in Paris, he was taught by André Gill, Jean Baptiste Carpeaux and Jacquesson de la Chevreuse. The artist participated in the Franco-Prussian War and he became friends with the poets Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine; the former is the presumed subject of one of his portraits. These poets further increased the popularity of his art. In 1878 he painted a small Café Scene in gouache. This most probably influenced Manet’s Bar at the Shepherdess Follies (Folies-Bergère). Manet is an artist he first met in the early 1870s through his friendship with Degas, another artist with whom they used to exhibit at the salon of Nina de Callias.