War

Art Historical Context

Henri Rousseau’s 1894 lithograph “War” presents a stark and immediate image through its bold choice of medium. Printed in black ink on bright orange wove paper, the work measures just over 8 by 12 inches, giving it an intimate scale that draws viewers close to confront its subject. The sharp contrast between the inky lines and the warm orange ground heightens the dramatic tension implied by the title. As a lithograph, the piece reflects the late-nineteenth-century interest in printmaking as a means of reaching wider audiences while preserving expressive detail. Rousseau’s use of this accessible yet precise technique allows the composition to retain clarity and emotional force across impressions. Now part of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Prints and Drawings collection, the work offers visitors a window into how artists of the period explored themes of conflict through both subject and material.