Artwork
The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Henri Rousseau. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
About this work
Overview
The Eiffel Tower is a 1900 oil painting by Henri Rousseau, a French artist who began painting seriously in his forties.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a serene evening scene along the Seine, with the Eiffel Tower visible in the distance. The composition includes a small building, a lit bridge, and strolling figures, blending everyday life with a sense of tranquility.
Technique & Style
Rousseau worked in a Post-Impressionist style, characterized by a dreamy quality. He painted the Eiffel Tower from memory, as he had never seen it in person, contributing to the scene's imaginative and non-realistic representation.
History & Provenance
Rousseau retired from his job as a toll collector at 49 to paint full-time. Initially ridiculed, his work later gained recognition for its artistic merit and influence on avant-garde movements.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Henri Julien Félix Rousseau was born on 21 May 1844 in Laval, Mayenne, and died in Paris on 2 September 1910.
