Henri Rousseau

Date of Birth: May 21, 1844

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: September 2, 1910

Biography

Henri Julien Félix Rousseau, also known as “Le Douanier” (The Customs Officer), was a self-taught French painter born on May 21, 1844, in Laval, Mayenne, France. Rousseau is best known for his lush, exotic landscapes and dreamlike scenes, often featuring wild animals and jungle settings. Despite having no formal art training, he developed a unique, naive style that captivated the art world. Rousseau worked as a toll and tax collector for much of his life, a job that earned him the nickname “Le Douanier.” He began painting seriously in his early 40s, and although he faced initial criticism and ridicule from the art establishment, he gained the admiration of avant-garde artists and intellectuals including Pablo Picasso, Guillaume Apollinaire, and others. Rousseau’s most famous works include “The Sleeping Gypsy,” “The Dream,” and “Tiger in a Tropical Storm (Surprised!).” His use of vivid colors, meticulous detail, and imaginative compositions have made his paintings enduring subjects of fascination. He exhibited regularly at the Salon des Indépendants, where his work gradually gained the respect it deserved. Henri Rousseau died on September 2, 1910, in Paris, France, impoverished but leaving behind a legacy that would influence countless artists and movements, including Surrealism and Naive Art.

5 Interesting Facts about Henri Rousseau

1. Henri Rousseau never left France, yet his jungle scenes were inspired by visits to the botanical gardens, books, and stories from soldiers returning from Mexico.

2. Pablo Picasso discovered Rousseau’s work in a junk shop and became a significant supporter, even holding a banquet in his honor.

3. Rousseau was largely self-taught and only began to paint seriously in his early 40s.

4. Despite initial criticism, Rousseau’s work gained posthumous recognition and influenced major art movements like Surrealism.

5. His painting “The Sleeping Gypsy” features a lion standing over a sleeping woman, and it is one of his most iconic works.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Henri Rousseau

1. “Beauty is the promise of happiness.”

2. “Nothing makes me so happy as to observe nature and to paint what I see.”

3. “I cannot now change my style, which I acquired, as you can imagine, by dint of labor.”

4. “Excuse my frankness, but I would like to see you change your manner of painting.”

5. “I have always cherished my independence.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Henri Rousseau did not achieve significant financial success during his lifetime, and he died impoverished. His highest net worth was modest, primarily comprised of his modest earnings from his customs job and occasional painting sales.

Children

Henri Rousseau and his first wife, Clémence Boitard, had six children, but only one, Julia, survived to adulthood. Julia lived with Rousseau and helped him in his later years. After Clémence’s death, Rousseau married Josephine Noury, but they had no children together.