Henri Rousseau

Henri Rousseau, also known as "Le Douanier Rousseau," was a French Post-Impressionist painter born in Laval, Mayenne, France in 1844. He was a self-taught artist, who didn’t begin painting until his late 40s, and is celebrated for his naive, vibrant, and often fantastical depictions of jungles and exotic scenes. While his work was initially dismissed by critics as “primitive,” Rousseau's unique perspective, bold use of color, and dream-like compositions garnered recognition from artists such as Pablo Picasso and Robert Delaunay. His artistic style is characterized by simplified forms, flat planes of color, and a lack of perspective, reminiscent of children's drawings. Rousseau's iconic paintings, like "The Sleeping Gypsy" (1897) and "The Hungry Tiger," showcase his distinctive vision and continue to captivate viewers today.