Henri Rousseau

A self-taught artist, Henri Rousseau taught himself to paint without formal academic art training and began his career as a painter in 1872. After working as a clerk to a bailiff, he joined the Paris Octroi as a second-class clerk after the 1870 war. From 1886, he took part in the Salon des indépendants, exhibiting four paintings at his first participation. In 1893, he retired from the Octroi to devote himself to painting; from 1901, he taught drawing and painting at the Association philotechnique. In 1909, he sold paintings to the dealer Ambroise Vollard for more than 1,000 francs.

Without having left France, Rousseau drew inspiration in particular from illustrated books and the botanical gardens of Paris. In 1891, he presented Surpris !, his first jungle painting, depicting a tiger moving through lush vegetation. In 1905, Le Lion, ayant faim, se jette sur l’antilope was also presented at the Salon des indépendants. A sales catalogue describes Arabe attaqué par une hyène as an oil on canvas measuring 38.7 × 46.4 cm, signed lower left, and refers to bibliographical sources devoted to the work. The entry gives an estimate of CHF 60,000 to 80,000 and an amount of CHF 116,316.

Works recorded at auction

Kornfeld · Lot 215

Paysage à Malakoff, ciel couvert

Oil on cardboard

Catalogue period : 2024-09-13

Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed

Estimate : CHF 200000

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Artcurial Beurret Bailly Widmer · Lot 6

Arab Attacked by a Hyena

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

Arabe attaqué par une hyène
huile sur toile

Catalogue period : 2020-09-23

Published result : 116316 CHF

Including buyer’s premium

Estimate : CHF 60000–80000

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Kornfeld · Lot 158

Un matin de pluie

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

Un matin de pluie
Öl auf Leinwand

Catalogue period : 2018-06-15

Published result : 225000 CHF

Hammer price, excluding fees

Estimate : CHF 275000

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Kornfeld · Lot 650

Intérieur d'un débit de boisson

Pencil drawing

Original catalogue wording

Intérieur d'un débit de boisson
Bleistiftzeichnung

Catalogue period : 2018-06-14

Published result : 15000 CHF

Hammer price, excluding fees

Estimate : CHF 20000

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Kornfeld · Lot 651

Le Dîner sur l'herbe - Femme tricotant

Bleistiftzeichnung auf leichter grauer Grundierung in Aquarell

Catalogue period : 2018-06-14

Published result : 12000 CHF

Hammer price, excluding fees

Estimate : CHF 10000

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