The artwork titled “Notre Dame View of the Ile Saint Louis from the Quai Henri IV” is a cityscape painting by Henri Rousseau, created in 1909. Rousseau, a post-impressionist painter often associated with Naïve Art or Primitivism, rendered the scene in oil on canvas. The piece embodies the characteristics of Rousseau’s style, with a naive perspective on the urban landscape of Paris. The work is part of the collection at the Philips Collection in Washington, DC, United States.
The artwork depicts a serene view of the Ile Saint Louis as seen from the Quai Henri IV. The composition features the Notre Dame Cathedral in the distance, characterized by its recognizable spire. A bridge arching over a river is visible, connecting the foreground to the middle ground, and lush greenery frames the scene around the water’s edges. In the foreground, a figure in dark clothing stands by the riverbank, seemingly gazing out at the anchored boat with a red flag atop its mast. The artist’s signature and the date of the piece can be found in the lower right corner, etching Rousseau’s presence into the heart of this tranquil urban landscape. The use of soft, muted colors conveys an atmosphere of calm, and the simplicity of forms suggests an unpretentious, straightforward representation of the cityscape.
