Two Horses Pulling a Cart

An avid draftsman and illustrator, Forain focused on the denizens of Paris and their activities. This sheet is among his rare forays into portraying animals. Here, he's depicted a common sight on the city's streets: two horses yoked to a cart. Such teams were used by tradespeople and farmers to move goods quickly. The horses have paused, and Forain is more interested in their forms and shadows than what is transported in the cart.
On the verso of mount in black chalk, four studies of mouths.