Henri Rousseau
Henri Rousseau Biography
Henri Rousseau (1844-1910), nicknamed "Le Douanier" or "the customs man" after the job he worked before becoming an artist, was a Post-Impressionist painter of the late 19th Century. Although Rousseau sought to emulate academic traditions, his lack of formal training in the basics of composition and perspective gave his artwork a unique touch. The painter was a regular contributor to Paris exhibitions, but, during his lifetime, was viewed with amusement and condescension by both the public and fellow artists. Henri Julien Felix Rousseau was born on May 21st, 1844, in the town of Laval in the North of France. His parents were Julien and Eleonore Rousseau. The family was part of a long line of petty bourgeoisie and the father owned several tin-ware shops. During the early years of his life, Henri was raised in relative prosperity, which made his parents' later financial woes affect him all the harder. At the age of 5, little Henri was enrolled at the local elementary school, after completing which he entered the Laval lycee. Although the boy had demonstrated an inclination for art early on, it was not done for members of the bourgeoisie to pursue the unconventional and monetarily unrewarding vocation of painting, and there was no talk of giving the child an artistic education. Rousseau would often rue his parents' inability to recognize his talent in later years.
Henri Rousseau 73 Most Important Paintings and Artworks
- Carnival Evening.
1886. Oil on canvas. 117.3 x 89.5 cm. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Promenade In The Forest.
c. 1886. Oil on canvas. 70 x 60.5 cm. Kunsthaus, Zurich, Switzerland.
- View Of The Ile Saint-Louis Seen From The Port Saint-Nicolas. / Vue De...
1888. Oil on canvas. 46 x 55 cm. Setagaya Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan.
- Rendezvous In The Forest.
1889. Oil on canvas. 92 x 73 cm. The National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, USA.
- Myself, Portrait-Landscape.
1890. Oil on canvas. 146 x 113 cm. Narodni Gallery, Prague, Czech Republic.
- The Customs Post.
. c. 1890. Oil on canvas. 40.6 x 32.7 cm. Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, UK.
- Toll Station./ L'Octroi.
1890. Oil on canvas. 37.5 x 32.5 cm. Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, UK.
- Surprise!.
1891. Oil on canvas. 130 x 162 cm. National Gallery, London, UK.
- A Centennial Of Independence.
1892. Oil on canvas. 11.8 x 157.2 cm. The J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu, CA, USA.
- The Pont De Grenelle.
c.1892. Oil on canvas. 20.5 x 75 cm. Musée du Vieux-Château, Laval, France.
- Carmagnole.
1893. Oil on canvas. Harmo Museum, Nagano, Japan.
- Young Girl In Pink.
1893-5. Oil on canvas. 61 x 45.7 cm. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- The Artillerymen.
c. 1893-5. Oil on canvas. 79.1 x 98.9 cm. The Solomon R. Guggebheim Museum, New York, NY, USA.
- Saw Mill, Outskirts Of Paris.
c.1893-5. Oil on canvas. 25.5 x 45.5 cm. The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
- War.
1894. Oil on canvas. 114 x 195 cm. Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France.
- Portrait Of Lady.
1895-7. Oil on canvas. 198 x 115 cm. Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France.
- Portrait Of A Woman.
1895. Oil on canvas. 160 x 105 cm. Musée Picasso, Paris, France.
- Tiger Hunt.
c.1895. Oil on canvas. 38.1 x 46 cm. Museum of Art, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Boy On The Rocks.
1895-7. Oil on linen. 35.4 x 45.7 cm. The National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, USA.
- Flowers./ Fleurs.
1895-1900. Oil on canvas. 61 x 50.2 cm. Tate Gallery, London, UK.
Henri Rousseau Bibliography
Henri Rousseau: Jungles in Paris by Claire Freches, Frances Morris, Christopher Green, Nancy Ireson. Harry N. Abrams, 2006.
Henri Rousseau by Gotz Adriani. Yale University Press, 2001.
Interpreting Henri Rousseau by Nancy Ireson. Tate Publishing, 2006.
