Rousseau, Henri

known as Le Douanier Rousseau

(born May 21, 1844, Laval, Fr.—died Sept. 2, 1910, Paris) French painter. After service in the army, he began working as a toll collector (not as a douanier, or customs officer, the epithet his friends later used) but found time to paint and draw. Completely self-taught, he exhibited some early paintings, including Carnival Evening, at the Salon des Ind in 1886. Like his later works, it is typical of naive art: everything is drawn literally, the clouds look solid, and the costumes receive more attention than the figures themselves. It nonetheless achieves a striking mood and mystery. In 1893 he retired to devote himself to painting, and in 1894 his War won him his first recognition by the avant-garde. His best-known works are richly coloured images of lush jungles, wild beasts, and exotic figures. He exhibited The Hungry Lion with the Fauves in 1905. He died a pauper; only after his death was his greatness recognized.

Find more information on Rousseau, Henri. Upgrade to Britannica Online for more on Rousseau, Henri.