Myself: Portrait-Landscape

painting by Rousseau

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July 1, 2026

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The painting "Myself: Portrait-Landscape" was created by Henri Rousseau around 1890. Rousseau, often considered the archetype of the modern naive artist, was known for his detailed and colorful depictions of jungles and exotic scenes. This self-portrait, painted in a naive yet earnest style, shows Rousseau standing with a palette, surrounded by the Parisian landscape. It reflects his ambition to be recognized as a painter in the academic tradition, despite his unconventional approach. The work is a significant example of his artistic output before he gained wider recognition from avant-garde artists.1

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Henri Rousseau
Civil service career and early paintings
…Rousseau’s career is his self-portrait, Myself: Portrait-Landscape (1890). Standing in the foreground, palette in hand, Rousseau is surrounded by the Parisian landscape, which is painted with great accuracy. This was obviously intended as a “portrait of the artist” in the academic tradition; the seriousness of purpose is impressive in spite…
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…Rousseau’s career is his self-portrait, Myself: Portrait-Landscape (1890). Standing in the foreground, palette in hand, Rousseau is surrounded by the Parisian landscape, which is painted with great accuracy. This was obviously intended as a “portrait of the artist” in the academic tradition; the seriousness of purpose is impressive in spite…
Read More