The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-02

FRENCH CARICATURISTS.
Two Men Who Are Masters
of the Art.
F0RAIN AND WILLETTE.
bow They Work and H6w They Livs-The
Journal Founded by Forsin- Willstte's
Peculiarities.
FORAIN AND WILLETTE.
Correspondence of THE MORNING CALL

face is framed by an abundance OF brown
hair. He affects the English style OF dress,
and in his studio he is seldom seen without
his hat This studio is in the Faubourg
Saint HOnore, near the Are de Iriomphe,
Champs Elysees. Pare MOnceau. and the
Peauion Hospital so that the artist easily
finds material for his work.
Everywhere Monsieur Forain takes notes
IN the street, the theGters. Sometimes he
sketches on a margin Of visiting card.
sometimes on the margin of a newspaper,
but he is always at work. 1t is he who
makes many Of the drawings for the Figaro
supplement, the Courier Francois and the
Journal Amusant. His psstels are theatrical
and sporting scenes and his oil paintings
uaually represent the vie Parisienne.
Monsieur Forain never interrupts his
work when a visitor enters the studio, but
nevertheless he eonverses in a most witty,
piquant manner. He certainly is brusQue,
and sometimes very sarcastic, but he Is
always good-natured and kind-hearted. Ii is
not strange that the artist works from morn
ing until night. because, in addition TO the
Journals and reviews, furnished by him with
three or four illustrations each week, he eX-
hibits with the Pastellists. the Thirty
three" and all the other great expostIons OF
the year.
EOral0 never aILdCkS the HutuDIc Ol TIC
earth in his caricatures and never ridicules
a noble sentiment. But hypOcrites, purse
proud people and those of similar cate
gOTies, no matter what their rank. are never
spared. The legends which be inscribes be-
meath his drawings prove that ForRln is
satirical writer of the first rank.
Among all the earicaturists of the day
not one has the versatility, the power OF
Forain. But he always paints ugly men
End ugly women, because gracefulness Is
the only quality lacking in his artistic COM
position. Even his danseuses are without
suppleness. and their faces are never agree-
hble in expression.
Forain was born at Rheims, where his
father was a modest house-painter. When
the boy discovered that his father wished
him to become a mechanic he strongly OBJ
jected; and one day, escaping from his home,
he came to Paris. Then he did not know of
the talent which would some day place him
among the first in France. He had no
money, and from time to time was able TO
earn a few sous IN order to keep away
starvation. With his companions he visited
the Louvre and Luxembourg, and, strange
70 say, he liked TO investigate the eEgrav
iDgs IN the Blbli0theQae Rationale.
Then he dreamed OF what he himself
might do. began TO draw, and then to paint.
He gained admission TO drawlng-school.
and his existence was Of the most bohemian
character. His acquaintance with Andre
Gill had great effect upon his character and
work. 1t was Gill who introduced him TO
some writers and poets, among them Jean
Riehepn, Maurice Boucher and RaOul
PouehOn. Forain's fayorite teacher OF
painting was NJ. Jaquessin de la Cherreuse,
and he studied sculpture with CarpeauX
aud Dumont. However. the study of Dau-
mier's engrayings and OF GOya's sketches
did much to prepare the young artist for
brilliant future.
About twelve years ago the work of
F0ran was first remarked at the Impress
Eionist exhi bltioD, Avenue de POpera.
Critics said. There is an artist who, some
day. will have great reputation" And
from the day that FOrain furnished Illus
trations for the Courier Francois he has
been celebrated. It was about five years
ago that NJ. Jules Rogue asked FOrain for
illustrations, and his example was followed
pT ne JS1rIs.ii Am1sanTs' -sn1-Fflgaro Sap
plement.
Forain wished to have journal Of his
own and founded the Fire. This was very
short lived, but Was presenter to the pubic
bv Jean Ricbepin. by whom Il was COM
pared with the Mangua Of Hokusai, the
ereat Japanese artist. Aurelien Scholl was
also one of the godfathers OF Fire, and
Forain explained the aim of the journal in
these words:
"To describe everyday life, show the abb
surdity of certain SORROWS, the sorrow OF
many joys, is my project Fantastic seeker,
I shall 20 everywhere, trying to illustrate
briefly as possible the emotions that see,
that I feel. I hope that the Fire, under
stood In this manner, will furnish each year
40 album amusing for everybody, the me-
mento of Partisan in Paris"
But although Forain wrote portion OF
the text and devoted his great talent to the
Illustrations the Fire did not live one year.
FOrain's great friend, the artist Willette,
also wished journal of his own. This be
baptized Pierrot. but its life was also very
short.
AdoIphe Willette is much more graceful
In his work than Forain, but he has not the
wonderful power Of observation that char
aeteriZes his friend. Willette was always
the favorIte Of Theodore de Banville, the
poet.
Willette lives in a small house at PIsle
Adam, most picturesque spot not lar from
Paris. The house is surrounded by woods
and hills, and the garden is filled with
flowers. The artist has a collection Of
pigeons, chickens, rabbits. fifteen Angora
eats and a japanese monkey called Linz
Lin. The great friend of Lim-Lim is Cara
bin, the sculptor, whose works made sen
sation at the Champ de Mars this year.
Wilette's studio is in another portion OF
the village. and the artist has for neighbogs
Violet lie Dere. nephew OF the great archi-
tect and critic, and the engrayer Foulquler.
1t will be remembered that Foulquier was
one of the promoters in the revival of eaux
f0rtes
In this charming village Adolphe Willette
has organized an exposition, to which all
the artists in the neighborhood send work.
For this little corner of the valley OF the
Disc has sheltered and still shelters paint
eTs OF the first rank. 1t YVES the hone CT
CoF8t. Jules Dupre, Daubigny, and even
Daumier, whose work had so much influence
on ForaiD. had home in this spot.
All th money received from this exp0si-
tion will be devoted to the erection of
Al Ill
Adam, who, now that he is dead, receives
ustice from his countrymen. Willette
calls this a monument of expiation.
OF course AdOlphe Willette only lives In
the village of PIsle Adam during the sum-
mer, and in winter he returns TO his home
In the Faubourg M0ntmartre, Paris. AL
though Willette could have made great
reputation as painter he preferred TO de-
vote himself to caricatures and illusira-
tions.
When be was at the Beaux Arts Charles
Blanc one day asked him to make some
drawings In illustration of MS esthetieal
lectures. After that Willette made ilustra-
tions for the Triboulet, the Jeune Garde.
Crosse Caisse, France Illustree and Chat
Noir. It was in Chat NOir that Willette
created the admirable type OF Pierrot,
which has been the joy of Parlsians for the
last ten years.
1t is difficult to see the best works of Will
lette because they belong usually to private
Individuals. His ceiling of the "0ld and
New Regime" the window Golden Calf"
are among the most characteristic pages OF
this century. Some OF Wilette's drawings
are celebrated. among them Cholera"
SACRED Heart Ia woman who has golden
louis instead of heart, Ireland" the
maiden of Erin scratching the earth with
her hands, etc.
One characteristic Of Wilette is his hatred
tor Queen Victoria. aud another his hatred
for the Jews. But Ia spite of his hatreds
and peculIarites Wilette will remain one
OF the most original, most delicate artists of
our time.
BARONESS ALTHEA SALVADOR.
Paris, Sept TO-
Kicked by Dead MN.
St. Louis Giobe-Democrat
81 had mY-bat kicked off one dark night