DOUANIER Rousseau (Henri ROUSSEAU)
Master of naïve art admired by Picasso and Apollinaire, le Douanier Rousseau (1844-1910) painted dreamlike jungles. Discover above the works offered by Galerie 125.
Le Douanier Rousseau, Master of Naïve Art
Henri Julien Félix Rousseau, known as Le Douanier Rousseau, born in Laval on May 21, 1844, and died in Paris on September 2, 1910, is the great representative of naïve art. Coming from a modest family, he worked at the Paris customs office, earning him his nickname, and taught himself painting.
Dreamed Jungles
Without ever leaving France, Rousseau painted countless lush jungles, populated with wild beasts and mysterious figures, inspired by illustrated books and the greenhouses of the Jardin des Plantes. His elaborate technique and childlike style long earned him ridicule, until the Salon des Indépendants brought him favorable reviews starting in 1891.
The Admiration of the Avant-Garde
At the end of his life, he was admired by Apollinaire, Alfred Jarry, Robert Delaunay, Marie Laurencin, and Pablo Picasso, who organized a famous banquet in his honor at the Bateau-Lavoir. His work profoundly influenced the Surrealists. "What he saw was only love," said Paul Éluard of him.
Le Douanier Rousseau at Galerie 125
Galerie 125 presents above lithographed exhibition posters dedicated to Le Douanier Rousseau, at the Maison de la Pensée Française (1960) and the Charpentier Gallery (1961), offered at 95 euros. Each of these works can be ordered online and joins your collection with a gallery certificate.
Naïve art enthusiasts will also discover lithographs by William Deliège. Explore our original art posters.
Do you own a work by Le Douanier Rousseau and wish to sell it? Visit our Sell a Work page.