Le Douanier

Le Douanier is a term often associated with the French painter Henri Rousseau, who is also known as Henri Julien Félix Rousseau. He was born on May 21, 1844, in Laval, Mayenne, and died on September 2, 1910, in Paris. Rousseau is best known for his post-impressionist paintings, particularly his lush, exotic jungle scenes, despite never having left France or seen a jungle firsthand.

Early Life

Henri Rousseau was born into a modest family. His father was a tinsmith, and the family struggled financially. Rousseau attended school in Laval and later moved to Paris, where he worked various jobs to support himself. In 1863, he began working as a toll and tax collector, a job that earned him the nickname "Le Douanier," which means "the customs officer."

Artistic Career

Rousseau began painting seriously in his early forties, and he was largely self-taught. He retired from his job as a customs officer in 1893 to devote himself fully to his art. Despite his lack of formal training, Rousseau developed a unique style characterized by bold colors, precise outlines, and imaginative subject matter.

Style and Technique

Rousseau's work is often classified as Naïve art or Primitivism. His paintings are noted for their dreamlike quality and meticulous attention to detail. He often depicted fantastical scenes of lush jungles, wild animals, and exotic landscapes, which he created from his imagination and visits to the Jardin des Plantes and the Musée d'Ethnographie in Paris.

Notable Works

Some of Rousseau's most famous paintings include:

• The Sleeping Gypsy (1897)
• The Dream (Rousseau) (1910)
• Tiger in a Tropical Storm (Surprised!) (1891)
• The Hungry Lion Throws Itself on the Antelope (1905)

Legacy

Rousseau's work was initially met with mixed reviews, with some critics dismissing it as simplistic or childlike. However, he gained the admiration of several prominent artists and writers, including Pablo Picasso, Guillaume Apollinaire, and André Breton. Today, Rousseau is celebrated as a pioneer of modern art, and his paintings are held in major collections around the world.

Related Pages

• Henri Rousseau
• Naïve art
• Primitivism
• Post-Impressionism
• Pablo Picasso
• Guillaume Apollinaire
• André Breton