Les Rousseau américains de retour à Paris
The Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris is hosting a landmark exhibition titled "Henri Rousseau, l’ambition de la peinture," featuring 50 works by the self-taught master. The show is distinguished by a historic loan from the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, which has sent nine paintings to France for the first time since they were acquired a century ago by Albert Barnes. A highlight of the exhibition is the rare gathering of three "manifesto paintings"—The Sleeping Gypsy, Unpleasant Surprise, and The Snake Charmer—displayed together in a dedicated gallery.
This exhibition marks a significant shift in international museum cooperation, made possible by updated lending policies at the Barnes Foundation. Beyond the rare assembly of masterpieces, the project incorporates recent technical research conducted by the Barnes and the C2RMF in France, offering new insights into Rousseau’s material processes and artistic methods. While some key works like the Prague self-portrait remain too fragile for extensive travel, this collaboration provides a comprehensive reassessment of Rousseau’s legacy and his technical ambitions.