The Past and the Present
1899 Barnes Foundation
About this artwork
An oil on canvas portrait depicting a couple standing in a garden setting, with two smaller faces floating in the clouds above them. The composition features a symmetrical arrangement of foliage and figures.
Did you know?
Henri Rousseau, a self-taught customs inspector, painted this work during his later years in Paris. The inclusion of floating heads in the clouds, representing the figures' younger selves, is a signature surrealist element that defies realistic spatial constraints, highlighting the artist's imaginative and intuitive approach to portraiture.
Know the artwork. Knowing its title and artist turns a beautiful image into a story worth sharing — with a museum label:
The Past and the Present
Henri Rousseau, 1899
On your wall. Unlock the 4K download and keep this piece in your Vault — forever.
