Rousseau

Henri Rousseau (1844–1910) worked as a clerk at the Paris municipal customs office, dreaming of becoming an acclaimed artist. At the age of 49, he decided to give it a try. At first, his paintings, with their bright colors and bold brushstrokes, portrayed the flora and fauna of exotic jungles were rejected because they were considered childish and simplistic, but his unique and tenacious style soon found favor with the public. From 1886, Rousseau regularly exhibited his works at the prestigious Salon des Indépendants in Paris, while in 1908 Picasso organized a legendary banquet in his honor .

Although best known for his tropical landscapes, Rousseau never actually left France, drawing inspiration from books and magazines, visits to natural history museums, and the anecdotes his army acquaintances told when they returned home. For his oil paintings, the artist preferred a vibrant palette, sharp contours and one languid and lush sensuality , as is evident in the nude lying among the leaves in the painting The Dream.

Today, Rousseau is an established name in art history, on a par with other post-Impressionist masters such as Cézanne, Matisse, and Gauguin. This reliable TASCHEN introduction explores the reasons for the late artist's success and his legacy. unlikely hero of modernism .