Rousseau- Tiger in a Tropical Storm (Supris!) Flashcards
(37 cards)
Full caption and topic sentence
Henri Rousseau, Tiger in a Tropical Storm (Surprised!), 1891, oil on canvas, National Gallery, London. This is Rousseau’s first jungle painting, depicting a dramatic encounter between a tiger and an unseen prey in a storm-lashed tropical forest.
What do we see in the image?
A tiger crouches aggressively in a dense jungle, seemingly ready to pounce. Lightning flashes in the background and wind bends the long grass and leaves, creating a chaotic, intense atmosphere.
How convincing is this depiction in terms of weight and perspective? What word might describe the style?
The image is stylised rather than naturalistic. There is little linear perspective, the jungle appears flattened, and the tiger’s anatomy is awkward. The style is naïve or primitive, characterised by deliberate simplicity and innocence.
How can we account for Rousseau’s unusual style?
Rousseau was self-taught and did not attend art school, which meant he was free from academic conventions. His style reflects an intuitive, imaginative approach, often disregarding rules of anatomy and perspective.
What did Rousseau do before dedicating himself to art?
He worked as a Parisian customs officer, which earned him the nickname “Le Douanier Rousseau”.
What did Rousseau claim (or not deny) about his experience of the jungle?
He did not refute suggestions that he had travelled to exotic places or seen jungles firsthand, although he never left France. He implied he had served in Mexico, which added mystery to his jungle paintings.
Who commented on Rousseau’s imagination and what did he say?
Apollinaire described Rousseau’s imagination as powerful and dream-like, praising his ability to evoke emotional intensity from invented, imagined scenes.
Where might Rousseau have seen the plants in the painting?
Most likely at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, which had a vast array of tropical flora.
Where might he have seen the tiger?
In the Paris zoo, or through taxidermy displays and illustrations at the Jardin des Plantes natural history galleries.
What exhibition in 1885 celebrated the tiger?
A tiger-themed exhibition at the Jardin des Plantes in 1885 contributed to the animal’s status as an exotic and powerful predator in French popular culture.
What is the term used to describe interest in exotic and “savage” lands, people, and animals?
Primitivism – a fascination with cultures considered “uncivilised” or “other,” often romanticised and distorted by Western artists.
What was the 1889 exhibition in Paris, and why is it significant?
The Exposition Universelle celebrated 100 years since the French Revolution and displayed colonial power and ‘exotic’ cultures. It fed public interest in foreign lands and influenced artists like Rousseau.
How many times does a tiger appear in Rousseau’s later jungle scenes?
The tiger reappears six times, becoming a recurring symbol of wild nature and exotic danger.
What makes this image powerful?
The intense colour palette, dramatic weather, dense foliage, and the poised, silent aggression of the tiger create a tense, cinematic moment. The unnatural stillness and strangeness heighten the emotional effect.
How does Rousseau create a sense of movement and tension?
Diagonal lines in the plants, the streak of lightning, and the tiger’s coiled body suggest motion. The wind-blown vegetation and expressive brushwork build drama and tension.
How is Rousseau’s use of colour significant in Tiger in a Tropical Storm?
He uses high-contrast colours: the orange of the tiger against deep greens and stormy skies creates visual tension. This heightens the drama and draws attention to the predator.
How does Rousseau create a sense of movement in the scene?
The diagonal slashes of lightning and wind-swept plants, all bending in one direction, convey dynamic motion and heighten the drama of the storm.
How does Rousseau’s lack of traditional training affect his representation of space?
The image has an intentionally ‘naïve’ style: there’s no consistent linear perspective or chiaroscuro. This flattening of space contributes to its dreamlike, otherworldly quality.
What elements in the painting suggest that the jungle is imagined rather than real?
The overly stylised foliage, symmetrical plant forms, and absence of spatial depth suggest the jungle is constructed from memory, second-hand imagery, and fantasy, not observation.
Why did Rousseau include the storm in this jungle scene?
The storm not only adds drama but symbolises the unpredictable and dangerous forces of nature—amplifying the threat the tiger represents and evoking the Sublime.
Which elements of the composition guide our eye toward the tiger?
Diagonal lines from the lightning and bent vegetation all converge toward the tiger, and its warm tones contrast against the cool background, commanding the viewer’s attention.
How might the inclusion of a tiger reflect colonial attitudes in 19th-century France?
The tiger, an exotic predator, feeds into colonial fascination with the ‘savagery’ of distant lands. This reflects broader 19th-century Orientalist and imperialist ideologies.
What visual techniques make the painting feel surreal or uncanny?
The lack of shadows, flattened depth, rigid outlines, and repetitive plant motifs make the scene feel artificial and uncanny—more like a theatrical set than real nature.
How can we link Rousseau’s work to Romanticism?
Like Romantic artists, Rousseau explores wild, untamed nature, the Sublime, and emotional intensity. His tiger and storm evoke awe and fear, classic Romantic themes.
