Henri Rousseau The Hungry Lion Attacking An Antelope

The Hungry Lion Attacking an Antelope (Le Lion ayant faim se jette sur l’antilope, 1905) by Henri Rousseau is a dramatic oil on canvas unveiled at the Salon d’Automne. The scene captures a fierce lion mid-attack, sinking its teeth into an antelope within a dense, stylized jungle. Surrounding foliage, layered meticulously leaf by leaf, creates a rhythmic and decorative backdrop. Additional predators lurk in the shadows, intensifying the primal tension. The painting combines violence and stillness, transforming the exotic wilderness into a theatrical, dreamlike stage.

Henri Rousseau (1844–1910), often called “Le Douanier,” was a self-taught French painter linked to Post-Impressionism and Primitivism. Though critics initially mocked his technique, avant-garde artists admired his bold imagination. Rousseau became renowned for his jungle compositions, even though he never left France, drawing inspiration from botanical gardens and illustrated books. His flattened forms and vivid detail influenced modern movements including Fauvism and Surrealism. Today, he stands as a pioneering figure of early modern art.