14 - Henri ZUBER (1844–1909)

Henri ZUBER (1844–1909) Washerwoman by the Stream Oil on canvas, signed lower left. H_56 cm W_38 cm Henri Zuber was born on June 24, 1844, in Rixheim, Alsace, into a prominent Protestant industrial family that owned the famous Zuber & Cie wallpaper factory. He grew up in an environment particularly attuned to the arts and nature, especially in the family’s vast garden, which helped foster his love of drawing and landscape from an early age. After studying in Strasbourg and Paris, he enrolled in the Naval Academy in Brest in 1861. His career as a naval officer then took him on voyages to Mexico, China, Japan, and Korea. These expeditions proved to be a defining experience: he brought back numerous sketches and watercolors, reflecting his interest in landscapes, atmospheres, and distant light. Upon his return to France in 1868, he abandoned his naval career to devote himself entirely to painting and joined Charles Gleyre’s studio, where he perfected his mastery of oil painting. Settling in Paris, he developed a body of work devoted primarily to landscape, alternating between oil on canvas and watercolors. His compositions are distinguished by their peaceful atmosphere, open horizons, luminous skies, and a particularly delicate observation of nature’s variations. He exhibited regularly at the Salon des Artistes Français and became, during his lifetime, a recognized landscape painter and watercolorist. Deeply attached to his Alsatian roots, Henri Zuber maintained a special connection with his native region throughout his career, depicting it notably in works such as *Les Premiers Sillons, Haute-Alsace* (1883). His unique artistic journey—blending a family artistic heritage, travels to distant lands, and the observation of nature—established him as one of the leading Alsatian landscape painters of the second half of the 19th century. His works are now held in several major institutions, notably the Louvre and the collections of the Musée d’Orsay. Related Work: A similar scene of washerwomen by a stream was offered at auction on October 28, 1998, at Christie’s and sold for 5,672 euros. Selected Bibliography: Denis Blech (ed.), Henri Zuber (1844–1909): From Beijing to Paris, Journey of a Passion, Somogy, 2008.