Provenance
Paul Guillaume (1891–1934), Paris, by 1927 [Zervos 1927]. Valentine Dudensing, New York, 1929 [Chicago 1933]. Walter S. Brewster (1872–1954) and Kate Brewster (née Lancaster; c. 1879–1947), by 1933 [Chicago 1933]; bequeathed by Kate Brewster to the Art Institute, 1950.
Accession Number
68433
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
25.5 × 45.5 cm (10 × 17 7/8 in.)
Classification
oil on canvas
Credit Line
Bequest of Kate L. Brewster
Background & Context
Background Story
Henri Rousseau's Sawmill, Outskirts of Paris (c. 1893/95) is an oil on canvas showing a more naturalistic side of the artist. This painting depicts a sawmill on the outskirts of Paris, a scene from the industrial suburbs. Rousseau's treatment is precise and detailed, the palette more subdued than his exotic works. This painting belongs to the period when Rousseau was developing his style, still working within a relatively naturalistic mode.
Cultural Impact
Rousseau's suburban scenes provide valuable context for understanding his art, showing the everyday reality he transformed into dreamlike visions.
Why It Matters
This painting of a sawmill shows Rousseau working in a more naturalistic mode, the precise detail revealing the foundation of his imaginary jungles.
