Shop art print and framed art The dream by Henri Rousseau

Henri Rousseau's dream: a dive into the world of the Douanier Rousseau

Henri Rousseau, nicknamed the Douanier Rousseau after his job as a customs clerk, was a self-taught French painter who left his mark on art history. His fame stems in particular from his ability to create works imbued with great poetry and a certain mystery, as is the case with Le Rêve de Henri Rousseau, a painting produced in 1910.

Context and inspiration for the painting Le Rêve de Henri Rousseau

Le Rêve is often considered to be the major work of the Douanier Rousseau. The latter, who was born in 1844 and died in 1910, started painting late, at the age of 40. Despite his late start, he managed to establish himself on the Parisian art scene thanks to his unique and innovative style.

One of the characteristic elements of Rousseau's works is the omnipresence of nature, and more particularly of the jungle. This fascination with lush, exotic landscapes is thought to have originated at the Universal Exhibitions held in Paris during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These events offered the public the chance to discover plants and animals from the four corners of the globe. Douanier Rousseau is said to have been particularly inspired by the greenhouses at the Jardin des plantes in Paris, where he spent many hours contemplating and drawing the exotic vegetation.

Description and analysis of the painting The Dream

Le Rêve is a large-format oil on canvas (204 x 298 cm), depicting a dreamlike scene set in a lush jungle. The composition of the painting is centred around a naked woman reclining on a red sofa, surrounded by a multitude of wild animals and plants in a wide variety of shapes and colours.

The central place of the naked woman

The presence of the nude woman at the centre of the painting immediately catches the viewer's eye. Her voluptuous body and generous forms contrast with the animals and plants surrounding her. This female figure is generally interpreted as an allegory of beauty and sensuality, and its erotic character only reinforces this feeling.

Animals and their symbolism

The animals depicted in Le Rêve are many and varied, including a lion, an elephant, a snake, a parrot and several monkeys. These animals can be interpreted in different ways, but they all seem to participate in the creation of a fantastic and marvellous universe. The lion, for example, could symbolise power and strength, while the elephant represents wisdom and nobility. Monkeys, meanwhile, are often associated with mischief and cunning.

Lush vegetation

The picture is dominated by a profusion of plants and trees in strange shapes and shimmering colours. This vegetation seems to abound and invade the space, creating a veritable setting for the naked woman and the animals. This jungle is a recurring element in the works of Douanier Rousseau, who was able to create a unique style by blending realism and the imaginary.

The influence and posterity of Henri Rousseau's Rêve

Henri Rousseau's Rêve was an immediate success when it was first exhibited in 1910, and it continues to fascinate the public and art critics today. It is considered a major work of modern art and has greatly influenced twentieth-century artists.

A masterpiece of naivety

Le Rêve is often cited as one of the finest examples of naïve painting, an artistic movement that emerged in the early 20th century and is characterised by the depiction of simplified scenes imbued with a certain innocence. Le Douanier Rousseau is considered one of the masters of this movement, alongside other painters such as Séraphine Louis and Camille Bombois.

An influence on twentieth-century artists

The Dream exerted a considerable influence on many twentieth-century artists, particularly surrealist painters such as Salvador Dalí or René Magritte. The latter were captivated by the dreamlike, fantastical world created by Le Douanier Rousseau, as well as by his naïve style and singular technique. Le Rêve also inspired artists from other currents, such as Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall, who recognised in Henri Rousseau a self-taught genius and a precursor of modern art.

Henri Rousseau's Dream is a work apart in the history of art, which continues to fascinate and intrigue to this day through the richness of its detail and the power of its imagination. It testifies to the talent and insatiable curiosity of Douanier Rousseau, who was able to create a unique and poetic universe despite his lack of academic training.

This artwork is a painting from the modern period. It belongs to the naïve art style.

« The dream » is kept at Musée d'Art Moderne MoMA, New York, USA.

Find the full description of The dream by Henri Rousseau on Wikipedia.