Henri Rousseau Biography

Henri Rousseau once again demonstrates his mastery of mood painting in his 1886 oil on canvas painting, Carnival Evening.

The Henri Rousseau Carnival Evening is slightly more foreboding than Rousseau’s other pieces. It envisions a couple – a woman, plainly dressed, and a man, in almost clown-like garb – walking through a forest. The trees are bare, and a small fenced structure sits to one side. As with many of Rousseau’s paintings the moon is out, though the sun still seems to be setting in the background.

Though well done the painting sets a grim scene. Neither man nor woman look excited at the prospect of a carnival: indeed the man almost looks upset, his mouth a thick, black line. Their bright white clothing stands starkly out against the darkness of the jagged forest that seems ready to gobble them up.

The original painting can now be found at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.