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How did the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris inspire Henri Rousseau?
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Henri Rousseau
Myself: Portrait-Landscape, oil on canvas by Henri Rousseau, 1890; in the National Gallery, Prague. 146 × 113 cm.
The 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris served as a significant source of inspiration for Henri Rousseau. It is highly probable that the fair's reconstructions of Senegalese, Tonkinese, and Tahitian landscapes provided the artist with essential visual references that fueled the exoticism found in his later works.1
Rousseau’s fascination with the event was profound; he was so enthusiastic about the exposition that he even authored a vaudeville play titled A Visit to the Exposition of 1889, though he was ultimately unable to have it produced. This period of his life, which coincided with significant personal hardship, marked a time of increased artistic activity that helped shape the lush, jungle-themed imagery for which he is now celebrated.1