“The Football Players” is an oil on canvas painting by Henri Rousseau, created in 1908. This artwork exemplifies the Naïve Art movement, particularly Primitivism, and is classified as a genre painting. Measuring 80.3 by 100.5 cm, the artwork is on display at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum located in New York City, NY, US.
In the artwork, we observe a vibrant and animated scene of five figures engaged in a game of football, set against a dense, leafy backdrop that characterizes Rousseau’s style. The central figure dominates the composition by reaching for a large, brown ball, while two teammates in horizontal striped uniforms rush forward in anticipation, their faces marked by exaggerated expressions. A contrasting figure in vertical stripes stands off to the side, seemingly caught mid-stride and distanced from the primary action. The players are portrayed with a simplified childlike sense of proportion and perspective. Rousseau’s treatment of the lush foliage, a recurring theme in his works, and the flat, dreamlike quality of the scenery form a unique juxtaposition with the animated sporting event. The use of vivid colors and the incorporation of a whimsical, almost theatrical element make the artwork a notable example of Rousseau’s distinctive and innovative approach to painting.
