“The Representatives of Foreign Powers Coming to Greet the Republic as a Sign of Peace” is an artwork by Henri Rousseau that was created in 1907. It is an oil on canvas measuring 161 by 130 cm and is housed at the Musee Picasso in Paris. The artwork is associated with the Naïve Art movement, also known as Primitivism, and falls under the genre of portrait.
The artwork portrays a large gathering of figures in official dress that seem to represent different nations, as indicated by the diversity of their attire and the flags, including that of the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, amongst others. A lion rests at the feet of the central figure who stands prominently at the forefront of a group of dignitaries, ostensibly symbolizing peace. The delegates are assembled on what appears to be a large dock or platform with a massive ship looming in the background, its hull draped with an ornate red cloth, festooned with gilded decorations suggestive of regalia.
The scene is set against an urban backdrop, showing a cityscape with buildings that have an European architectural style, bridges, and statues. The atmosphere seems formal but festive, marked by a sense of ceremony and historical significance. The citizens, depicted in various states of activity in the lower right-hand side, contrast with the solemnity of the dignitaries, adding a layer of everyday life to the scenario. Rousseau’s characteristic flatness of form, vivid color palette, and unsophisticated depiction of perspective lend the artwork a dreamlike and somewhat surreal quality, all hallmarks of his self-taught, Naïve art style.
