His wife died in 1888 and he married Josephine Noury in 1898. In this, Rousseau's first jungle painting, a wide-eyed, tooth-bearing tiger suddenly emerges from the grass, where it has been lurking, with the waving fronds, slanting branches, rain, and dark sky indicating the storm cited in the title. Henri Rousseau's modest background belied his aspirations. Vallotton's description suggests the reasons Rousseau would be so highly acclaimed among modern artists of the early-20th century and later. ‘The Flamingoes’ was created in 1907 by Henri Rousseau in Naïve Art (Primitivism) style. "Henri Rousseau Artist Overview and Analysis". Henri Julien Felix Rousseau (May 21, 1844 - September 2, 1910) Henri Julien Felix Rousseau (May 21, 1844 - September 2, 1910) was a French Post-Impressionist painter in the Naive or Primitive manner. Exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants, this jungle scene - a theme often treated by academic artists - was ridiculed by many critics for its evident amateurish quality. The gypsy is dressed in Eastern garb, while the painting as a whole recalls the stories from Arabian Nights, which had been translated into several unabridged versions starting in the mid-1880s. But if he had been trained, modern art as we know it … French artist Henri Rousseau created fantastic paintings prior to the development of the 20th century's Fantastic art movement. A lion happens to pass that way and sniffs at her but does not devour her." He was good at painting and music as a child, but spent most of his life in the profession of a customs officer at the outskirts of town. In 1897, he produced one of his most famous paintings, La Bohémienne endormie (The Sleeping Gypsy). He was a self taught artist who often painted images of jungle scenes and animals. The fantastic, often outrageous imagery that resulted from these hybrid influences - most famously, a nude woman reclining on a divan mysteriously located in a tropical jungle - was celebrated by the. Naïve Art is created by an artist who lacks formal education and training in art history, technique, and perspective. The apparent innocence of his pictures gave them a kind of imaginative grandeur that seemed beyond… Rousseau’s painting style was unlike that on any other primitive painter, and many of his paintings were jungle scenes. He also developed the painting style of portrait landscape, in which he would place a person or a couple in the foreground of a landscape painting. He was born at Laval, Mayenne. To become a patron and help support this channel you may follow the link below. He started painting seriously in his early forties; by age 49, he retired from his job to work on his art full-time. All Rights Reserved, Henri Julien Rousseau - The complete works, Henri Rousseau biography, paintings, and quotes, National Gallery of Art - Henri Rousseau: Jungles in Paris, Henri Rousseau: In Imaginary Jungles, a Terrible Beauty Lurks, Noble Savage: Analyzing the Work of Henri Rousseau, A short film about Rousseau by Andrew Graham-Dixon, Surprised! Henri Rousseau, byname le Douanier (French: “the Customs Officer”), (born May 21, 1844, Laval, France—died Sept. 2, 1910, Paris), French painter who is considered the archetype of the modern naive artist. He is also known as Le Douanier (the customs officer) after his place of employment. Born in 1844 in Laval, a market town in northwest France, he was a provincial transplant to Paris who was impoverished for most of his life. Henri Rousseau became a full-time artist at the age of forty-nine, after retiring from his post at the Paris customs office - a job that prompted his famous nickname, "Le Douanier Rousseau," "the toll collector." This painting's departure from Rousseau's usual subject matter led many to declare it a forgery, some even attributing it to André Derain. Subsequently, the young Henri enrolled as a boarding student at Laval High School, which he attended until 1860. Depicts a man on a white horse watching his herd of He loved art, poetry and music. Rousseau's best-known works are lush jungle scenes, inspired not by any firsthand experiences of such locales (the artist reportedly never left France), but by frequent trips to the Paris gardens and zoo. For its eerie, meditative beauty and image of humankind's harmony with the animal kingdom, The Sleeping Gypsy has attained iconic status. the naÏve style of henri rousseau – french post-impressionist French Post-Impressionist painter Henri Julien Félix Rousseau paints in the primitive or Naïve style . ", "I always see a painting before executing it. It shows a tiger, illuminated by a flash of lightning, preparing to pounce on its prey in the midst of a raging gale.. Best known for his jungle paintings, Henri Rousseau (1844 – 1910) was very much an outsider in the art world. ArtForum / Yet it was more than a decade before Rousseau returned to depicting his vision of jungles. As a kid Henri showed an interest in arts, both music and drawing. July 14, 2006, By Jonathan Jones / He is known for his richly coloured and meticulously detailed pictures of lush jungles, wild beasts, and exotic figures. Henri finished the Lycee, a kind of high school. His work was almost always bright and colorful and he is best know for his Sleeping Gypsy painting of 1897. His work has also been an inspiration for the contemporary animated film “Madagascar.”, Henri Julien Félix Rousseau (French: [ɑ̃ʁi ʒyljɛ̃ feliks ʁuso]; May 21, 1844 – September 2, 1910) was a French post-impressionist painter in the Naïve or Primitive manner. September 2010, By Roberta Smith / His father, a metalsmith, had long-term financial difficulties, amassing enough debt to result in the seizure of the family house in 1851. The Portrait-Landscape is his own invention and I would advise him to take out a patent on it, as unscrupulous characters are quite capable of using it." He started painting seriously in his early forties; by age 49, he retired from his job to work on his art full-time. Yet this quality resonated with modern artists such as Picasso, who saw in Rousseau's work a model for the sincerity and directness to which they aspired in their own work, by drawing inspiration from African tribal masks and other "primitive" and traditional art forms. Here, Rousseau captures the height of greatness to which he aspired as a painter, presenting himself in outsized scale with brush and palette in hand and wearing a suit and traditional artist's beret, before a landscape that features the Eiffel Tower and a tall-masted ship decorated with world flags. Henri Julien Rousseau was born in Laval in Northern France into a family of a plumber. January 2001, By William Wilson / Henri Rousseau (May 21, 1844 – September 2, 1910) was a French painter in the post-impressionist era. Henri Rousseau liked nothing better than to paint on a Sunday, his only day off. The canvas was also known as "Tigers Pursuing Explorers" and "Storm in the Jungle," alternate monikers suggesting some ambiguity as to its subject matter. For other people, however, it evoked a sense of mystery and eccentricity. He worked a variety of jobs (saxophonist, toll collector) before beginning to paint at age 40. Los Angeles Times / He was unaware that he was considered untrained by established painters, and believed himself to be a great realist painter. Would you believe that when I go out in the country and see all that sun, all that greenery and all those flowers, I sometimes say to myself: All that belongs to me, it does! The Guardian / In 1907, he was commissioned by artist Robert Delaunay's mother, Berthe, Comtesse de Delaunay, to paint The Snake Charmer. Largely self-taught, Rousseau developed a style that evidenced his lack of academic training, with its absence of correct proportions, one-point perspective, and use of sharp, often unnatural colors. With his father's death, Rousseau moved to Paris in 1868 to support his widowed mother as a government employee. Rousseau's work exerted an extensive influence on several generations of avant-garde artists. Such features resulted in a body of work imbued with a sense of mystery and eccentricity. In 1905, Rousseau's large jungle scene The Hungry Lion Throws Itself on the Antelope was exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants near works by younger leading avant-garde artists such as Henri Matisse, in what is now seen as the first showing of The Fauves. Although an admirer of artists such as William-Adolphe Bouguereau and Jean-Leon Gerome, the self-taught Rousseau became the archetypal naïve artist. Content compiled and written by Tracee Ng, Edited and published by The Art Story Contributors, "When I step into the hothouses and see the plants from exotic lands, it seems to me that I am in a dream. He served four years, starting in 1863. The untutored and idiosyncratic character of Rousseau's art was derided by many early viewers of his work, with one Parisian journalist memorably writing that "Monsieur Rousseau paints with his feet with his eyes closed." Le Banquet Rousseau, "one of the most notable social events of the twentieth century," wrote American poet and literary critic John Malcolm Brinnin, "was neither an orgiastic occasion nor even an opulent one. ", "If you remove these lines in the painting, the colors are no longer effective. He may have been ridiculed during his lifetime, but he is now considered a self-trained genius, who created works of high artistic quality. He was also known as Le Douanier (the customs officer), a humorous description of his occupation as a toll and tax collector. The self-taught painter Henri Rousseau was mocked for his clumsy compositions and awkward perspectives. The New York Times / He worked as a customs clerk on the outskirts of the city, a post that earned him the nickname Le Douanier (the customs agent). Though mediocre in some of his high school subjects, Rousseau won prizes for drawing and music. Rousseau did not train as an artist, but enjoyed copying works of art at the Louvre - the famous Paris art museum. It has been altered or parodied by various artists (with the lion often replaced by a dog or other animal). Featuring incorrect proportions, one-sided perspective, and unnatural colors, Rousseau’s body of work was criticized by many. Although he completed the portrait in 1890, Rousseau subsequently updated the work with additional autobiographical details: a ribbon of the order of academic distinction, which he added to the lapel in 1901, after becoming a drawing teacher at the Association Philotechnique, and the names of his two wives, Clemence and Josephine, which he later painted on the palette. Rousseau's ambitions to become a noted academic painter are also evoked in the subtitle of this work, which announces a new hybrid genre - the "portrait-landscape." Because of this, he was also referred to as Le Douanier, or the “Customs Officer.” He started painting seriously at the age of forty and by the time he was 49 he retired from his job in order to paint full time. Find more prominent pieces of wildlife painting at Wikiart.org – best visual art database. [Internet]. The strangeness of the scene is enhanced by the precariously sloping plane and presentation of the animal and gypsy as if below the viewer's perspective. Henri Julien Felix Rousseau grew up amid humble circumstances in Laval, a small town in northwestern France. Influenced by a combination of "high" and "low" sources - academic sculpture, postcards, tabloid illustrations, and trips to the Paris public zoo and gardens - Rousseau created modern, unconventional renderings of traditional genres such as landscape, portraiture, and allegory. He did, however, interview may soldiers who had served in the jungle in Mexico about their travels through the subtropics. These also suggest some accessible resources for further research, especially ones that can be found and purchased via the internet. After high school, he worked for a lawyer and studied law, but "attempted a small perjury and sought refuge in the army." Tiger in a Tropical Storm (Surprised!) Rousseau was born in Laval, Mayenne, France, in 1844 into the family of a plumber; he was forced to work there as a small boy. When Pablo Picasso happened upon a painting by Rousseau being sold on the street as a canvas to be painted over, the younger artist instantly recognised Rousseau's genius and went to meet him. His friend and neighbour… He was also known as Le Douanier (the customs officer), a humorous description of his occupation as a toll and tax collector. He was very well-known for his many paintings depicting jungle scenes that have inspired musicians, painters and writers. Tiger in a Tropical Storm or Surprised! He was known as Le Douanier ("the customs officer"), a humorous description of his occupation as a … Henri Rousseau believed that his work was done in an academic style, although he was most widely seen as a professional for his creative style, and the unique ability to take something out of the page of a magazine, and recreate it into a unique and distinct picture. As a self-taught painter, Henri Rousseau was completely untrained in any established art techniques. Henri Rousseau created several paintings of the jungle scenes that can be classed as Primitivism Art while working in a style that is also called Naïve Art. (or Tiger in a Tropical Storm) is painted by Henri Rousseau in 1891.It was the first of the jungle paintings for which the artist is chiefly known. Art & Antiques / A contemporary critic mocked Rousseau's self-aggrandizing portrayal in this work, writing, "I found it extremely difficult to come to terms with Monsieur Henri Rousseau whom I shall call, if I may, the sensation at the Indépendants. And for a short time he worked for a lawyer before he joined the French army in 1863. Its subsequent fame grew from the fact that it was a colorful happening within a revolutionary art movement at a point of that movement's earliest success, and from the fact that it was attended by individuals whose separate influences radiated like spokes of creative light across the art world for generations. The books and articles below constitute a bibliography of the sources used in the writing of this page. Many French artists, including Rousseau, painted scenes of Parisians enjoying themselves. is an 1891 oil-on-canvas painting by Henri Rousseau.It was the first of the jungle paintings for which the artist is chiefly known. He would have liked to become an artist but with the modest means of his family it was nothing but a dream. Tiger in a Tropical Storm (1891). Rather, his artwork expressed an untrained style, … There is a tale that he traveled to Mexico and fought in the subtropics as he was in the army, but this legend is untrue. Artwork page for ‘Bouquet of Flowers’, Henri Rousseau (`Le Douanier’), c.1909–10 By the time of his death in 1910 the amateur painter Rousseau was acknowledged by Picasso and others as a naturally creative spirit. He was an average student, aside from receiving distinctions in music and drawing. Although he had ambitions to become a famous academic painter, Rousseau instead became the virtual opposite: the quintessential "naïve" artist. Abbandonati gli studi, si arruola volontario in fanteria nel 1863 al distretto di Angers per evitare la casa di correzione in seguito al furto di pochi franchi nello studio di un avvocato e sconta un mese di pena nella prigione di Pré Pigeon. Henri Julien Félix Rousseau was a French post-impressionist painter in the Naïve or Primitive manner. People in Paris loved to explore the great outdoors. In 1868, he married Clémence Boitard, his landlord's 15-year-old daughter, with whom he had six children (only one survived). From 1886, he exhibited regularly in the Salon des Indépendants, and, although his work was not placed prominently, it drew an increasing following over the years. His amateurish technique and unusual compositions provoked the derision of contemporary critics, while earning the respect and admiration of modern artists like Pablo Picasso and Wassily Kandinsky for revealing "the new possibilities of simplicity." About Henri Rousseau: Henri Rousseau was a French artist born in 1844, died in 1910. ©2021 The Art Story Foundation. French artist Henri Rousseau was a self-taught painter, influencing the Parisian avant-garde movement. Later he would claim that he had serv… In 1893, Rousseau moved to a studio in Montparnasse where he lived and worked until his death in 1910. Surprised! He started painting late in life and was roundly mocked in his own time, but was later recognized as a genius and became an influence on later avant-garde artists. October 28, 2005, By Richard Shone / Such features resulted in a body of work imbued with a sense of mystery and eccentricity. Rousseau proudly responded in turn, "I am the inventor of the portrait landscape, as the press has pointed out.". Henri Rousseau (1844–1910), an artist whom Picasso knew and admired and who was not a Fauve, had his large jungle scene The Hungry Lion Throws Itself on the Antelope also hanging near the works by Matisse and which may have had an influence on the particular sarcastic term used in the press. As such, he regarded himself very highly, and in his opinion, Picasso and he were the only two great living artists.Rousseau’s painting style was unlike that on any other primitive painter, and many of his paintings were jungle scenes. In the Style of - Henri Rousseau After learning about Henri Rousseau and his paintings of lush foliage and wild animals, the children use his style … Who Was Henri Rousseau? Rousseau's painting may even have influenced the naming of the Fauves. The full text of the article is here →, Self-Portrait with a Lamp - Henri Rousseau, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Rousseau, The Hungry Lion Throws Itself on the Antelope, The Seine and the Eiffel Tower in the Sunset, Landscape in Montsouris Park with Five Figures. While working as a … ", "Nothing makes me happier than to contemplate nature and to paint it. Although he had never been to a jungle (he actually never left France), many of his paintings depicted oversized plants and wild animals lurking in the shadows. developed his own signature style of modern art- a captivating child-like primitivismwith an academy-style smooth finish, - as exemplified by the exotic jungle landscape of The Snake Charmer(1907, Musee d'Orsay, Paris) and The Dream(1910, MOMA), as well as the eerie symbolism of The In order to understand the development of his personal imagery one must examine his life's roots. Henri Julien Félix Rousseau (France, May 21, 1844 – September 2, 1910. Although the painting establishment laughed and ridiculed his artistic style, he was highly regarded by artists who were outside the establishment, such as Picasso, Jean Hugo, Leger, Beckman, and later, painters of the Surrealist style. Surprised! The work of Henri Rousseau, a former clerk in the Paris municipal customs service who was known as “Le Douanier” accordingly and who had exhibited at the Indépendants since 1886, attracted attention. M. Rousseau is bent on renewing the art of painting. In an attempt to sell the piece to his hometown, Rousseau sent the following description to the Mayor of Laval: "A wandering negress, a mandolin player, sleeps in deep exhaustion, her jug beside her. He was a self-taught artist, and didn’t paint in the traditional academic style of the Salon and French Academy. By Philippe Buttner, Christopher Green, Franz Hohler, By Jonathon Keats / Nato il 21 maggio 1844 a Laval, una cittadina a Nordovest della Francia, è figlio di Julien Rousseau (1808-1868, lattoniere e commerciante di ferramenta) e di Eléonore Guyard (1818-1890), figlia di Jean-Baptiste Guyard (1791-1833), comandante del terzo Battaglione della Legion d'onore. Disclaimer: Henri-Rousseau.com is a personal website covering the career of famous French artist Henri Rousseau, but is in no way an official website for Henri Rousseau and Henri-Rousseau.com does not claim to be that in any way. Henri Rousseau was a famous French Post-impressionist artists, known for a unique style which challenged academic thinking during the 19th century Rousseau is best known for his jungle and animal scenes which have drawn huge interest from the international art mainstream who found a … In 1908, Picasso held a half serious, half burlesque banquet in his studio at Le Bateau-Lavoir in Rousseau's honour. Yet, for the painter and critic Felix Vallotton, the work was a " 'must-see'... the alpha and omega of painting and so disconcerting that, before so much competency and childish naivete, the most deeply rooted convictions are held up and questioned." In this, Rousseau's first jungle painting, a wide-eyed, tooth … ", This is a part of the Wikipedia article used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Unported License (CC-BY-SA). More than a decade later, his work was treasured by the Surrealists as evidence of the marvellous aspects of the unconscious. He made many trips to the botanical gardens, perused illustrated books, and observed closely studied taxidermied animals. Rousseau was a key figure in the movement and developed his own style that many thought reflected his lack of academic training. Although he had never been to a jungle (he actually never left France), many of his paintings depicted oversized plants and wild animals lurking in the shadows. Tiger in a Tropical Storm. It shows a tiger, illuminated by a flash of lightning, preparing to pounce on its prey in the midst of a raging gale. Henri Rousseau (1844–1910) was a post-Impressionist painter. February 24, 1985, The art-inspired episode features a work by Rousseau. He is best known for his naïve, or primitive, childlike jungle scenes. The moonlit scene takes place in a desert, where a female gypsy sleeps with a mandolin and jug by her side, untroubled and - amazingly - unharmed by a curious lion. Ridiculed during his lifetime by critics, he came to be recognized as a self-taught genius whose works are of high artistic quality. His unusual ideas and creativity inspired many future Surrealists. was exhibited in 1891, and Rousseau received his first serious review when the young artist Félix Vallotton wrote: "His tiger surprising its prey ought not to be missed; it's the alpha and omega of painting." Check out our henri rousseau style selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. ", "I cannot now change my style, which I acquired, as you can imagine, by dint of labour.". In 1871, he was appointed as a collector of the octroi of Paris, collecting taxes on goods entering Paris. Largely self-taught, Rousseau developed a style that evidenced his lack of academic training, with its absence of correct proportions, one-point perspective, and use of sharp, often unnatural colors. Henri Rousseau lived in Paris, France. He attended Laval High School as a day student, and then as a boarder after his father became a debtor and his parents had to leave the town upon the seizure of their house.