At age 19, Bonheur exhibited her works for the first time at the Paris Salon in 1841.
On 1 March 1841, Rosa Bonheur exhibited her works for the first time at the prestigious Paris Salon. At the age of 19, she presented two animal paintings, marking the beginning of her public artistic career. The Salon, an official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, was a crucial platform for artists to gain recognition. Bonheur's participation was notable, given the gender barriers women faced in art. This debut helped set the stage for her future contributions to the art world.