Tiger in a Tropical Storm

Key facts and history

Rousseau never left France, despite claims that he had experienced jungle life while serving as a regimental bandsman in Mexico in 1860.^[1] His inspiration likely came from the Jardin des Plantes botanical gardens, its zoological galleries of taxidermy specimens, and from prints and books.^[1] After this painting, Rousseau did not return to a jungle theme for seven years, until Struggle for Life (now lost) appeared at the 1898 Salon.^[2] Critics continued to deride his work, with one writing that he showed "implausible jungles... grown from the depths of a lake of absinthe"^[2]

The French public in the final years of the 19th century was fascinated by exotic and perilous subjects, including tigers on the hunt, which were featured in an 1885 École des Beaux-Arts exhibition.^[1] Art dealer Ambroise Vollard acquired Surprised! and two additional pieces from Rousseau around 1908, paying 190 francs after the artist had initially asked for a higher price.^[2]

What the cited sources add

The sculpture of 1887 by Emmanuel Frémiet depicting a gorilla carrying a woman was found acceptable as art, suggesting Rousseau's poor reception stemmed from his style rather than his subject matter.^[3]