At the age of fifteen he left for Riga, aiming to achieve his dream of becoming an artist, later attending Saint Petersburg Academy of Arts.

During his free time the artist would visit his hometown to get away from the bustle of a large city, as well as to paint scenes of the surrounding nature and take on commissions of portraits.

At some point the artist made the decision to settle in Saldus, wishing to live closer to his intended art subjects as well as draw inspiration from the local nature scenes.

The start of World War I interrupted the family's peaceful life while on a stay in their villa located in Kulosaari, Helsinki during the years of 1905 to 1916.

In Rozentāls' works the linear coexisted with the picturesque, flatness – with a soft transition of tones, small touches of paint – with vast surfaces of color.

Janis Rozentāls was interested in the biological nature of man – the world of passions, the love theme, was typical of his time.

In the summer of 1910 he worked at the decorative frieze on the facade of the newly erected building of the Riga Latvian Society.

Painting occupied a central place in the creative activity of Rozentāls, yet his performance in graphic art was significant, too.

The scope of his activity was very wide – his work encompassed the design of books and magazines, applied graphic art, posters, and drawings.