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This Artist Will Take You Into a Jungle With His Paintings

Edited By: Violet T.

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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!

1. Tiger in a Tropical Storm (Surprised), 1981, now in the National Gallery, London, England

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, Tiger in a Tropical Storm (Surprised), 1981, now in the National Gallery, London, England

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

2. The Sleeping Gypsy, 1897, now in the Museum of Modern Art

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, The Sleeping Gypsy, 1897, now in the Museum of Modern Art

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

3. A Carnival Evening, 1886, now in the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, A Carnival Evening, 1886, now in the Philadelphia Museum of Art

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

4. Self Portrait, 1890, now in the National Gallery, Prague

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, Self Portrait, 1890, now in the National Gallery, Prague

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

5. Le Moulin (The Mill), 1896, now in the Musée Maillol, Paris

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, Le Moulin (The Mill), 1896, now in the Musée Maillol, Paris

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

6. Boy on the Rocks, 1895–1897, now in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, Boy on the Rocks, 1895–1897, now in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

7. La tour Eiffel peinte par Henri Rousseau, 1898, now in the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, La tour Eiffel peinte par Henri Rousseau, 1898, now in the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

8. The Hungry Lion Throws Itself on the Antelope, 1905, now in the Fondation Beyeler, Riehen, Basel, Switzerland

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, The Hungry Lion Throws Itself on the Antelope, 1905, now in the Fondation Beyeler, Riehen, Basel, Switzerland

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

9. The Dream, 1910, now in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York City

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, The Dream, 1910, now in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York City, NY, US

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

10. Le Pientre et son modèle (The Painter and his Model), 1884, now in the Musée National D'Art Moderne, Paris

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, Le Pientre et son modèle (The Painter and his Model), 1884, now in the Musée National D'Art Moderne, Paris

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

11. Der Hühnerhof (The Chicken Yard), 1896-1898, now in the Musée National D'Art Moderne, Paris

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, Der Hühnerhof (The Chicken Yard), 1896-1898, now in the Musée National D'Art Moderne, Paris

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

12. Struggle Between Tiger and Bull, 1908-1909, now in the Musée de l'Ermitage, Saint Pétersbourg, Russia

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, Struggle Between Tiger and Bull, 1908-1909, now in the Musée de l'Ermitage, Saint Pétersbourg, Russia

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

13. The Equatorial Jungle, 1909, now in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D. C.

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, The Equatorial Jungle, 1909, now in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D. C.

(By Cliff, Wikimedia Commons)

14. The Customs Post, 1890, now in the Courtauld Institute and Art Gallery, London

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, The Customs Post, 1890, now in the Courtauld Institute and Art Gallery, London

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

15. A Corner of the Plateau of Bellevue, 1901-1902, now in the Rhode Island School of Design Museum (RISD Museum), Providence

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, A Corner of the Plateau of Bellevue, 1901-1902, now in the Rhode Island School of Design Museum (RISD Museum), Providence

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

16. Landscape on the Banks of the Marne (also known as Autumn), 1888, now in the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, Landscape on the Banks of the Marne (also known as Autumn), 1888, now in the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

17. Footbridge at Passy, 1895, now in a private collection

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, Footbridge at Passy, 1895, now in a private collection

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

18. La Seine à Suresnesl, 1911, now in a private collection

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, La Seine à Suresnesl, 1911, now in a private collection

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

19. Landscape with Cattle, 1886, now in the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, Landscape with Cattle, 1886, now in the Philadelphia Museum of Art

(By Henri Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons)

20. Banks of the Oise, 1905, now in the Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA), Northampton, Massachusetts

Impressionist, Naive and primitive style paintings from 19th Century French Artist Henri Rousseau, known for his jungle scenes, landscapes and still-lifes, Banks of the Oise, 1905, now in the Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA), Northampton, Massachusetts