“The Girl with a Doll” is an artwork by Henri Rousseau, created circa 1904 – 1905. This portrait, rendered in oil on canvas, is an exemplar of Naïve Art or Primitivism. The artwork’s dimensions are 52 by 67 centimeters. Currently, it is housed at the Musée de l’Orangerie, in Paris, France.
The artwork features a frontal portrayal of a young girl standing against a backdrop that includes a seemingly tranquil blue sky above and a green field below, dotted with red flowers. The girl is clothed in a vibrant red dress with a white, ornamented collar, and white polka dots that contribute to the innocence and simplicity of the subject. She wears brown boots and holds a white doll, which contrasts with her dress and complements the color of the collar as well as the boots. In her other hand, she clutches a white flower, adding to the pure and childlike motif of the painting.
Her facial expression is noteworthy for its earnest and solemn appearance, lending a gravity that contrasts with the youthful subject matter typically associated with childhood. The doll, too, echoes the girl’s expression with a direct gaze. Rousseau’s representation in this painting epitomizes his distinct, self-taught style that typifies the Naïve Art movement, with its straightforward and unaffected depiction of the subject.
