About the artist
Henri Rousseau (1844-1910) was a French Post-Impressionist painter who is best known for his jungle scenes. He was self-taught and worked as a toll collector for the city of Paris. His naive style of painting was heavily influenced by the works of the Old Masters and the popular art of his time. He was a member of the Salon des Indépendants and the Salon d'Automne. Rousseau's works were admired by the avant-garde artists of the early 20th century, including Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.
Also associated with: Naive art, Dreamlike scenes, Primitivism, Symbolism, Fauvism, Surrealism.