The Chair Factory at Alfortville by Henri Rousseau

As part of his urban and industrial explorations, the naive art painter Henri Rousseau delivers a peaceful vision of modernity. His original canvas, which bears here the unique title of “The Chair Factory at Alfortville”, represents a Parisian suburban landscape with great geometric poetry. This creation testifies to the painter’s constant interest in architectural scenes and calm water landscapes of his daily life.

The main building of the chain factory, painted in white with a bright red roof, rises proudly at the intersection of sandy paths. The commercial inscription written on the facade stands out clearly, giving a realistic and documented aspect to the suburban scene. On the left, a quiet canal stretches towards the horizon, its dark waters, which are rather deep, slowly and discreetly reflecting the cloudy and changing sky. A solitary fisherman, wearing a hat, is seated at the water’s edge, holding his long line above the current. A few green trees and another red brick building complete this calm and orderly industrial landscape.

The mastery of linear perspective and the use of oil paint make it possible to structure the space in a clear manner. The treatment of architectural volumes and reflections on the water demonstrates the artist’s technical precision. Rousseau breathes an unexpected sweetness into an industrial subject that is a priori austere.