Waterfall in the Auvergne; verso: Sketch of rocky terrain

At the age of eighteen, after failing to pass even the first stage of competition for the coveted Prix de Rome at the École des Beaux-Arts, Rousseau fled not to Italy but to Franceʼs Auvergne region. For six months he dedicated himself to studying and rendering nature -- the textures of tree bark, rock formations, flowing water, and waving grasses. This period was critical in shaping his artistic approach.