Portrait of A Woman 1905

Henri Rousseau painted this portrait of a woman with oil on canvas, though the specific date is unknown. The deep reds and blacks he uses create a somber, almost stage-like setting. It’s like he's inviting us to really look, to consider the process of seeing itself. I'm struck by the textures, the way the paint handles the light. It's not about hiding the brushstrokes, but letting them breathe. Notice the almost primitive quality in the depiction of her face. It’s not polished, it’s raw, and in that rawness, there's a compelling honesty. The brushstrokes around the eyes are telling; it feels like he’s trying to capture not just her likeness but some inner truth. Rousseau’s unique approach reminds me a bit of Giorgio de Chirico, in that they both share a certain dreamlike logic and a willingness to embrace a unique visual language.