• The Equatorial Jungle (1909)
    The Equatorial Jungle (1909)

    The Equatorial Jungle (1909)

    Henri Rousseau

    Regular price $21.00+

Henri Rousseau

Henri Rousseau, born May 21, 1844 in Laval, France, was a post-impressionist painter known for his vivid jungle paintings, although he never set foot in an actual jungle. Rousseau originally worked as a customs officer, which earned him the nickname "Le Douanier" (The Customs Officer). It was not until his late forties that he devoted himself fully to painting, without any formal training, making him one of the best-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 in his dreamlike scenes, which often feature 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 images an almost surreal quality. Rousseau claimed to draw inspiration from Paris's Jardin des Plantes and illustrated books, as well as from his dreams. Despite his later recognition, Rousseau lived largely in poverty and was not fully recognized until his death on September 2, 1910 in Paris.

Interesting fact:

Henri Rousseau once claimed that he had no teachers except nature itself, although he later admitted that he had also received instruction from two academic painters. Another curious fact is that in 1908, Rousseau witnessed a humorous banquet event in his honor, organized by Pablo Picasso in his studio in Montmartre. This event showed how much Rousseau was appreciated by younger artists, even if the general public had not yet fully recognized his work.

Important works of art & images by Henri Rousseau:

1. "The Dreamlike Walk" (1908)
2. "The Sleeping Gypsy" (1897)
3. "The hungry lion throws himself at 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 Who Eats the Antelope" (1898)