Henri Rousseau was a French naive painter active from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. He taught himself to paint as a " Sunday painter ," and his unique style was only understood by a few artists during his lifetime. However, after his death he was reevaluated and became one of the artists who had a major influence on 20th century art. In particular, his fantastical works set in tropical jungles continue to fascinate many people.

Henri Rousseau Biography

• Born May 21, 1844 in Laval, France
• Around 1871, he began working as a customs officer at the port of entry in Paris.
• In 1886, he exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants for the first time, and continued to exhibit every year thereafter.
• In 1893, he retired from the customs office and devoted himself to painting.
• In 1908, Pablo Picasso and others held a banquet in honor of Rousseau.
• Died in Paris on September 2, 1910 (aged 66)

Representative works

• The Sleeping Gypsy (1897)
• The Snake Charmer (1907)
• The Dream (1910)
• War (1894)

Henri Rousseau's painting style

Henri Rousseau's style of painting is representative of the naive school , and is characterized by free and original expression that is not bound by traditional painting techniques such as perspective and anatomy. In particular, his series of works with tropical jungle motifs depict fantastical landscapes that do not exist in reality with detailed depictions, inviting the viewer into a mysterious world. In addition, people and animals are often depicted facing forward, and their simple expression leaves a strong impression on the viewer.

Commentary on representative works

His masterpiece, "Sleeping Gypsy", depicts an unrealistic scene in which a lion gazes upon a sleeping woman in the silence of the desert. This work can be said to be a symbol of Rousseau's fantastical worldview. "The Dream", Rousseau's last work, depicts an even more surreal scene in which a naked woman lies on a sofa in the middle of a jungle filled with lush tropical vegetation.

Henri Rousseau's influence and later generations

During his lifetime, Henri Rousseau was a " Sunday painter " and was not widely recognized except by some pioneering artists. However, his unique style of painting had a great influence on 20th century painters such as Pablo Picasso and Wassily Kandinsky . In particular, Surrealist painters strongly resonated with Rousseau's fantastical and unrealistic worldview. Today, Henri Rousseau is highly regarded as one of the pioneers of 20th century art, and keywords such as naiveté , exoticism , fantasy painting , surrealism , and jungle are essential elements to understanding Rousseau's art. His works are housed in museums around the world and continue to be loved by many people today.