Henri Rousseau The Waterfall painting

The Waterfall (La Cascade, 1910) by Henri Rousseau is an oil on canvas created in the final year of his life. The painting presents a dense tropical jungle parted by a cascading stream, surrounded by luxuriant foliage and exotic plants. Rousseau’s meticulous layering of leaves and his flattened, decorative perspective give the scene a dreamlike stillness. The waterfall becomes both a focal point and a symbolic element of untouched nature. This late work exemplifies his mature fascination with imagined, faraway landscapes.

Henri Rousseau , known as “Le Douanier,” was a self-taught French artist associated with Post-Impressionism and Primitivism. Though once criticized for his unconventional technique, he gained the respect of avant-garde figures such as Picasso. His distinctive Naïve style, marked by bold outlines and stylized vegetation, influenced modern movements including Surrealism. Rousseau’s visionary jungle scenes remain among the most iconic images of early modern art.