Early Life and the Unconventional Path to Art
Henri Julien Félix Rousseau (May 21, 1844 – September 2, 1910) was a French Post-Impressionist painter in the Naïve or Primitive manner. He is also known as Le Douanier (the customs officer), a humorous description of his occupation as a tax collector. Ridiculed during his lifetime by critics, he came to be recognized as a self-taught genius whose works are of high artistic quality.
Henri Rousseau was born in Laval, Mayenne in the Loire Valley into the family of a tinsmith. 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. He was mediocre in some subjects at the high school but won prizes for drawing and music. He worked for a lawyer and studied law, but “attempted a small perjury and sought refuge in the army,” serving for four years, starting in 1863. With his father’s death, Rousseau moved to Paris in 1868 to support his widowed mother as a government employee. In 1868 he married Clémence Boitard, his landlord’s daughter and, being only fifteen years old, was nine years his junior. The couple had six children together, but only one survived, their daughter Julia Rousseau (born 1876). A few years into their marriage, in 1871, Rousseau took on a new post, collecting taxes on goods coming into Paris (a specific tax called the *octroi*).
## The Naïve Yet Profound Artistry of Rousseau
Rousseau’s artistic journey was marked by a self-taught approach, with influences from the world around him, including books, botanical gardens, and encounters with soldiers who had served in Mexico. His technique, though elaborate, was often described as childish, leading to ridicule during his lifetime. However, this very uniqueness has made his work a cornerstone of naïve art. He accepted early retirement in 1893 so he could devote himself fully to art.
## Key Works and Influences
- Landscape on the Banks of the Bievre at Bicetre (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)
- The Sleeping Gypsy
- Tiger in a Tropical Storm
- The Hungry Lion Throws Itself on the Antelope
Rousseau’s influences included Musée Maurice Denis (France), which showcased French Post-Impressionism, reflecting the broader art movement of the time. Tubism art movement – an example of how avant-garde movements influenced by Rousseau's work.
Legacy and Recognition
Henri Rousseau was recognized as a self-taught genius whose works are of high artistic quality. Notably, Pablo Picasso admired his work and helped promote it. Explore more of Henri Julien Félix Rousseau’s works on ArtsDot.
Learn More
