+ Expand

Description: Ca. 1896. Oil on canvas. 24,5 x 34,5cm. Signed bottom right: H. Rousseau. Verso denoted on canvas and stretcher: H. Rousseau. Framed.

Expertise:
An expertise by Yann le Pichon, Paris dating from 14 June 2004 is available. It will be included in the catalogue raisonné. A natural-scientific expertise by Laurette Thomas, Paris dating from 2 April 2004 is available.

Provenance:
French-German private collection

Exhibition:
Salon des Indépendants, Paris 1896

Literature:
Wilhelm Uhde, Henri Rousseau, Düsseldorf 1914, p.61
Comp. Jean Bouret, Henri Rousseau, Munich 1963, p.232

The work on hand, considered as missing for a long time, allows for some interesting insights into the working method of the artist. Without referring to the personal living conditions of the tollkeeper Henri Rousseau, it has to be stated, that he regularly participated in the Salon des Indépendants with an increasing number of paintings. At the same time his financial situation improved and he did preparatory sketches for later works, which were also sold. It is not known whether there are longer periods between study and execution.
Interestingly there is a second version of the Pont de Sèvres kept in the Puschkin Museum, Moscow. This work, however, originated in 1908, and a sketch belonging to this work from the same year is kept in private possession. The completely executed work on hand was exhibited for the first time in 1896 and therefore originated at least twelve years earlier than the Moscow version. That means, Rousseau already quotes himself. His affection towards this location appears once more, even though the changes are regarded. The simplification of forms in the Moscow work is not existing here. Especially the red station building with the distinctive clock vanishes later completely, also due to a change in perspective. The barge on the left half of the bank is also not there.

+ Expand

Notes: In 1896 Rousseau painted right down to the last detail a wonderful sight of this motif, which became famous by the Puschkin Museum.