Battle of Champigny - Episode of the War of 1870
1882 Musée des Beaux-Arts de la ville de Paris
About this artwork
An oil painting depicting a battle scene from the Franco-Prussian War, characterized by Rousseau's signature self-taught, flat perspective. The work captures smoke billowing over a village, soldiers in the foreground, and a sombre, muted color palette.
Did you know?
Henri Rousseau, often known as 'Le Douanier' due to his career as a toll collector, painted this work long before he became a celebrated icon of modern art. He was fascinated by the military conflicts of his time, and this depiction of the Battle of Champigny reflects his deep, imaginative engagement with historical events despite his lack of formal artistic training. His unique style, often dismissed as primitive by contemporaries, later became highly influential for the development of Surrealism and Modernism.
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Battle of Champigny - Episode of the War of 1870
Henri Rousseau, 1882
