Born in 1844, Henri Julien Félix Rousseau was born to a family of tinsmiths in the French town of Laval, Mayenne, but enjoyed the arts of music and drawing at a young age. Despite his artistic inclinations, as an adult he found himself working a tax collector, which contributed to his nickname, Le Douanier (the customs officer). As he grew older, he began to throw himself more and more into his art. His painting career truly began to pick up when he was in his 40’s, and he began exhibiting his pieces more regularly.
His artworks focused on scenes in the jungle and he was honored for his style and brilliance by renowned artists like Pablo Picasso. While his work received much criticism for its naive and primitive style, Rousseau is well-recognized in the art world as a self-made and self-taught genius whose paintings continue to influence and inspire avant-garde and impressionist artists. These paintings are sure to light a spark within you!

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)
(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

(By Cliff, Wikimedia Commons)

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)
Yayoi Kusama, an Artist With a Career Span of 60+ Years
Breaking away from traditional Japanese art forms, Yayoi Kusama has spent the last 60 years creating incredible abstract impressionist art
John Sargent’s Artworks Look So Aesthetically Pleasing
Marvel at some of the most beautiful paintings by the famous artist John Singer Sargent.
These 3D Glass Paintings Will Leave You Speechless
Jean-Pierre Weill is a French artist who creates 3D paintings using glass as the medium. As you can see, his works are stunning.
Frida Kahlo's Paintings Blended Mexican Culture With Art
Frida Kahlo found herself in her art, and creating lovely portraits and still-lifes about the culture and history of Mexico, her home.
The Phrase 'Flying Colors' Has Never Been More Literal
How did one artist manage to paint several airplanes? Read the story of Braniff Airlines and Alexander Calder.
I’m in Love with These Modern Impressionist Paintings
September McGee is an energetic modern American artist who paints figurative impressionist artworks. Her gorgeous canvases radiate with a robust energy.
Some of the Greatest Sculptors in History and Their Works
These are the 10 best sculptors of all time and their greatest masterpieces
2:37
Have You Ever Seen A Cello Performance Like This?
2Cellos are a hugely succesfuly cellist duo hailing from Croatia. Watch them perform their latest single, "Vivaldi", in this next clip:
4:39
This Cello Music is Going to Uplift You Straight to Heaven
A classic song meets the classic treatment. A beautiful cello performance by 2cellos.
5:26
If Ever Two People Were Meant to Sing Together, This is It
Andrea Bocelli's duets are among the god-sends that make our days so pleasant. And this duet with Katharine McPhee is positively heavenly.
3:13
This Has to Be One of the Best Musical Trios Ever!
What a classical team 2Cellos and Lang Lang make! Their performance of "Live and Let Die" is outstanding!
2:27
André Rieu Plays a Terrifically Fun Funiculi Funicula!
A magnificent performance by the incredible violinist André Rieu.
5:27
Andre Riéu Takes Us on An African Musical Ride
Another incredible musical performance by Andre Riéu, inspired by Africa.
This Is What the City of Rome Looked Like 1700 Years Ago
A full model of the ancient city of Rome that took 36 years to complete
4:29
Watch Swan Lake Like You Have Never Seen it Before!
Wow, these ballet dancers are so good that they'll take your breath away. Check them out!
The Hidden Stories Behind Rembrandt's Greatest Works
Feast your eyes on 10 of the Dutch painter, Rembrandt's greatest works ever. The majority of his paintings depict exceptional realism, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest self-portrait artists who ever lived.
4:23
This Beautiful Ice Dancing Performance is a Must See
In this video, French Olympic medalists Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron give an amazing performance in the 2016 World Championship.
35:34
If This Heavenly Music Doesn't Lift You, Then Nothing Will
Sarah Chang plays an amazing violin concerto that you will never forget.
5:45
You've Never Seen a Magic Act Like This Before!
This young man stuns an entire audience with his innovative and mind-boggling close-up magic tricks.
A Stunning Collection of Timeless Winter Art (16 Pics)
These magical winter paintings will soothe your heart.
6:21
André Rieu In Another Beautiful Operatic Sensation!
In this video, we are treated to an incredible rendition of Caro Nome by an incredibly skilled operatic singer.
4:27
‘My Heart Will Go On’ by This Violinist Will Amaze You!
Seeing talented children is always inspiring, and 11-year-old Karolina Protsenko is a true prodigy. Watch her perform Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On'.
5:41
These Phenomenal Acrobats Have Terrific Strength
These amazingly strong acrobats are going to effortlessly entertain you.
Nostalgia: 12 Great Songs by The Mamas and The Papas
If you're a fan of The Mamas and The Papas, you're going to love this collection of their greatest song.
5:00
A Thrilling A Capella Performance!
An Amazing A Capella Version of Michael Jackson's Thriller!
5:15
Andre Rieu Stirs Our Emotions With his Tribute to Sinatra!
Join Andre Rieu and his orchestra in their tribute to the unforgettable Frank Sinatra, as they perform "My Way".
1:42
Listen to ‘The Sound Of Silence' Like Never Before
Listen to this magical guitar performance of the famous song ‘The Sound Of Silence' filmed in the middle of a blizzard.
25:20
Is This Really How These Famous People Talked?
Mimicking an accent can be difficult. Watch this expert analyze 17 actors who played real-life characters. Did they nail it or not?
11:42
Watch a Gorgeous Restoration of a Sublime Fresco
See what care and skill go into returning this sublime piece of art to its former glory.
4:18
Not Only a Beautiful Shadow Dance, But Also a Story...
An incredibly talented shadow troupe performing an enchanting dance that tells a story...
7 Outstanding Examples of Byzantine Architecture
Visiting or just admiring any of the 7 Byzantine buildings we showcase in this article is quite a life-changing experience!
3:33
Have Some Fun With an Incredible Mariachi Performance
Stop your daily routine for a moment and go on a journey to magical Mexico through uplifting music.
6:18
These Human Voices Alone Resurrect a Totemic Rock Classic
Toto's Africa is one of my favorite songs. So I was thrilled to hear this stunning a cappella version ...
MUSIC BOX: These Songs Influenced Entire Generations...
Some songs just tend to stick in the collective consciousness and influence a generation, changing the world forever. Here are 10 of the most influential.
3:51
This is Cello Music Like You've Never Heard it Before
These two Croatian cellos players are taking cello playing to the next level. Don't believe us? This video is bound to change your mind.
4:02
Listen to This Stunning Rendition of a Christmas Classic
Pentatonix is an acapella group that is known throughout the world for its members' singing ability. Listen to them perform a Christmas classic in this video.
4:08
This Girl's Ventriloquism Skills Are Out of This World!
12-year-old Darci Lynne went on this year's America Got Talent and wowed the judges with her ventriloquism act. Take a look here!
6:24
This Funny Short Film Shows Us How Our Bodies Work!
It showcases how our body works in a wonderful, fascinating way that is also lighthearted and fun.
5 Priceless Works of Art That Are Lost Forever
From ancient sculptures to manuscripts that could have been classical pieces of literature, here are 5 priceless works of art that are sadly lost forever.
These Paintings Transport You to a Pastoral Dream World
Denmark's most famous landscape painter is one of the art world's greatest secrets. Have a look at these wondrous examples of his work.
5:00
Watch These Agile Dancers Move with Beauty and Grace
Using both strength and flexibility these two dancers move with grace and beauty. Watch their incredible performance here.
7:35
Acrobats on Unicycles? Now I Really Have Seen It All...
These Chinese unicycle acrobats will completely blow you away! Check out their daring performance here.
These Incredible Origami Animals Were Folded to Perfection
With only one sheet of paper, this origami expert creates the most delightful little animals
4:52
The Most Emotional Performance of 'A Thousand Years'
Watch the Piano Guys completely stun the audience with their rendition of the timeless classic, 'A Thousand Years.'
6:03
If You Like Clint Eastwood, You'll Love This Performance
The Danish National Symphony Orchestra create a fantastic experience with their performance of the song from the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
This Artist Creates Paper Art That is Truly Breathtaking
Russian artist Yulia Broadskaya is an expert at quilling. Her work has been commissioned by a number of big brands. Here's a sample of some of her amazing work.
4:30
These Musicians Produce Music from Vegetables!
Meet the members of Vienna’s Vegetable Orchestra who actually produce music with the help of vegetables.
To enable your Ad-Free Subscription, please fill the fields below
Your subscription was successful, now you can enjoy an ad-free experience!! Note: To make sure you get no ads, please make sure to log in to your account. If you are logged in already, then refresh the page. The subscription can be cancelled at any time.