What was henri Rousseau's first painting?

Question

I'm doing an art project on Henri Rousseau and need to know what his first piece of work was.

Answer 1

In 1884 Rousseau had obtained a permit to make copies and sketches in the National museums of Paris. In 1885 two of his paintings were exhibited at the Salon des Champs-Elyssees (It does not document these works). From 1886 until his death he exhibited every year at the Salon des Independents. The picture with which Rousseau made his debut (at des Independents), "Carnival Evening (1886)," was, in fact, a masterpiece of its kind and an impressive beginning for the artist. This was the exhibition platform of the avant-garde artist in contrast to the Salon des Artists Francais, which represented the "official", classical art.
Promenade in the Forest - 1886
Carnival Evening - 1886
http://www.artelino.com/articles/henri_rousseau.asp
http://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-519624/Salon-des-Independants
http://www.19thc-artworldwide.org/spring_07/reviews/lucy_print.html
http://jonimitchell.com/research/g_entry.cfm?id=35

Answer 2

As you have probably read, Rousseau worked for the Paris Customs at the Customs Post on the the Auteil Embankment where he checked goods that farmers brought into the city. Apparently this was not an arduous job and he started sketching the landscape there (from 1885 onwards). The first known painting that he made was actually of the place that he worked.
See The Customs Post, 1890, oil on canvas, 37.5 x 32 cm, Courtauld Institute of Art, London
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/rousseau/roomguide/room7.shtm
By the way, if you want any other info on Rousseau just post another question - as he is an artist I studied.

Answer 3

I don't know if it was his first painting but Rousseau exhibited Tiger in a Tropical Storm (Surprised!), 1891 and A Centennial of Independence, 1892 at the Salon des Indépendants, provoking both astonishment and sarcasm.
The Tate Modern has apretty good timeline of his life here:
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/rousseau/lifeandtimes/default.shtm