Self-Portrait
Henri Rousseau
European Art
On View:
This self-portrait, which displays the odd spatial disjunctions and flat tones typical of Henri Rousseau’s work, is likely the pendant to a portrait of the artist’s first wife, who died in 1888.
Self-taught, Rousseau did not start painting full-time until he was in his forties, shortly before he retired from his job as a customs officer. He showed his paintings at various independent exhibitions in Paris and became an important influence for vanguard artists, who appreciated the simplicity of his vision, often described at the time as “primitive.” Pablo Picasso was a particular fan and owned several of Rousseau’s works, including a similar set of portraits of Rousseau and his second wife posed with oil lamps instead of flowers.
Self-taught, Rousseau did not start painting full-time until he was in his forties, shortly before he retired from his job as a customs officer. He showed his paintings at various independent exhibitions in Paris and became an important influence for vanguard artists, who appreciated the simplicity of his vision, often described at the time as “primitive.” Pablo Picasso was a particular fan and owned several of Rousseau’s works, including a similar set of portraits of Rousseau and his second wife posed with oil lamps instead of flowers.
MEDIUM
Oil on paper mounted to canvas
DATES
ca. 1900–1903
DIMENSIONS
7 3/8 × 5 3/4 in. (18.7 × 14.6 cm)
frame: 11 3/4 × 10 3/8 × 2 3/4 in. (29.8 × 26.4 × 7 cm) (show scale)
SIGNATURE
Signed lower right: "H. Rousseau"
COLLECTIONS
European Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
67.24.14
CREDIT LINE
Bequest of Laura L. Barnes
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Henri Rousseau (Laval, France, 1844 – 1910, Paris, France). Self-Portrait, ca. 1900–1903. Oil on paper mounted to canvas
, 7 3/8 × 5 3/4 in. (18.7 × 14.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of Laura L. Barnes, 67.24.14 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 67.24.14_PS9.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 67.24.14_PS9.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2015
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
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