Henri Rousseau

Henri Rousseau, born on May 21, 1844, in Laval, France, was a Post-Impressionist painter known for his vibrant jungle paintings, although he never set foot in an actual jungle. Rousseau originally worked as a customs official, earning him the nickname "Le Douanier" (The Customs Officer). It wasn't until his late forties that he devoted himself fully to painting, without any formal training, making him one of the most well-known self-taught artists. His works were initially ridiculed but later gained recognition and influenced many avant-garde artists, including Pablo Picasso and Jean Hugo.

Rousseau's style is unique and easily recognizable by his dreamlike scenes, often depicting detailed, exotic plants and animals. His ability to paint with great precision and attention to detail contrasts with his lack of realistic perspective, giving his paintings an almost surreal quality. Rousseau claimed to draw his inspiration from the Parisian Jardin des Plantes and from illustrated books, as well as from his dreams. Despite his later recognition, Rousseau lived largely in poverty and was not fully appreciated until after his death in Paris on September 2, 1910.

Interesting fact:

Henri Rousseau once claimed he had no teachers other than nature itself, although he later admitted to also receiving guidance from two academic painters. Another curious fact is that in 1908, Rousseau witnessed a humorous banquet in his honor hosted by Pablo Picasso at his Montmartre studio. This event demonstrated how highly Rousseau was held in esteem by younger artists, even though the general public had not yet fully appreciated his work.

Important works of art & paintings by Henri Rousseau:

1. "The Dreamlike Walk" (1908)
2. "The Sleeping Gypsy" (1897)
3. "The hungry lion throws himself on the antelope" (1905)
4. "Exotic Landscape" (1908)
5. "The Snake Charmer" (1907)
6. "The War" (1894)
7. "The Escape of Lieutenant Lapeyre" (1895)
8. "The Dream" (1910)
9. "The Football Players" (1908)
10. "The Lion That Eats the Antelope" (1898)