Collection: Henri Rousseau

Henri Rousseau was a self-taught French painter best known for his dreamlike jungle scenes and imaginative landscapes. Often associated with Naïve art or Primitivism, his work defied academic conventions with its flat perspective, vivid colours, and stylised forms. Though he never left France, Rousseau’s exotic imagery was inspired by visits to botanical gardens, illustrated books, and his imagination, rather than firsthand experience. Initially dismissed by critics, he was later embraced by avant-garde artists for his originality and visionary style.