Henri Rousseau's Jungle Paintings: A Self-Taught Genius's Fantasies
Henri Rousseau, a French customs officer known as Le Douanier, produced approximately 25 jungle-inspired artworks between 1904 and 1910, drawing influence from children's literature, botanical gardens, taxidermy, and tales from soldiers. His initial jungle piece, Surprised! (1891), was turned away by the Paris Salon but later displayed at the Salon des Indépendants, where it received a mixed reaction. After a decade-long break, he returned with The Hungry Lion Throws Itself on the Antelope (1905), showcased alongside Matisse and others, which contributed to the term 'cage aux fauves' and the emergence of Fauvism. His final painting, The Dream (1910), featured his mistress Jadwiga and was shown prior to his passing on 2 September 1910, later earning him posthumous acclaim from artists like Picasso and Matisse.
Key facts
- Henri Rousseau was a French artist known as Le Douanier, a toll collector who painted in a Naïve or Primitive style.
- He never traveled outside France; his jungle scenes were inspired by children's books, Paris botanical gardens, taxidermy, and soldiers' tales of Mexico.
- Rousseau created approximately 25 jungle paintings, mostly between 1904 and 1910.
- His first jungle painting, Surprised! (1891), was rejected by the Paris Salon but exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants.
- The Hungry Lion Throws Itself on the Antelope (1905) was shown with works by Matisse, Derain, and Vlaminck, leading to the term Fauvism.
- The Dream (1910) was Rousseau's last completed work, exhibited months before his death on 2 September 1910.
- Guillaume Apollinaire praised The Dream, saying 'The picture radiates beauty, that is indisputable.'
- Rousseau's admirers included Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.
Entities
Artists
- Henri Rousseau
- Félix Vallotton
- Henri Matisse
- André Derain
- Maurice de Vlaminck
- Guillaume Apollinaire
- Jadwiga
- Pablo Picasso
- Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Institutions
- National Gallery
- Salon des Indépendants
- Fondation Beyeler
- National Museum of Natural History
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Salon d'Automne
- National Gallery of Art
- Museum of Modern Art
- Paris Salon
- Art & Popular Culture
- Google Arts & Culture
Locations
- France
- Paris
- London
- UK
- Basel
- Switzerland
- New York City
- NY
- USA
- Washington
- DC
- Mexico