Анри Руссо | Henri Rousseau

Henri Rousseau

Henri Rousseau, 2017

Overview

Henri Rousseau, a former clerk for the Paris customs service, pursued his dream of becoming an artist at age 49. Initially, his bold, vibrant paintings of jungles and exotic life were met with dismissal, often seen as simplistic. However, his distinctive and persistent style eventually gained recognition. Rousseau regularly exhibited at the prestigious Salon des Indépendants after 1886, and in 1908, Pablo Picasso hosted a notable banquet in his honor.

Despite his fame for tropical scenes, Rousseau never traveled to the tropics, drawing inspiration from books, magazines, natural history museums, and military acquaintances. His oil paintings typically feature a vivid palette and a sensuous rendering of subjects, exemplified in his nude jungle composition, "The Dream." Rousseau's unique artistic narrative is now a recognized part of art history, with comparisons drawn to Post-Impressionist masters like Cézanne, Matisse, and Gauguin.

Who it's for

• Art enthusiasts interested in Post-Impressionism.
• Readers exploring the lives of self-taught artists.
• Those fascinated by unique artistic journeys and modernist heroes.

Key features

• Language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• Pages: 96
• Publisher: Taschen
• Series: Basic Art
• Year: 2017
• ISBN: 9783836570763