Art, literature & historyBoy on the Rocks
Henri Rousseau · 1895/1897
Henri Rousseau: 1844–1910
Other names (13)
Customs Officer, Douanier, Douanier Rousseau, Henri Julian Felix Rousseau, Henri Julien Felix Rousseau, Henri Julien Rousseau, Henri rousseau, Henry Julien Felix Rousseau, h. rousseau, le Douanier, Le Douanier Rousseau, Rousseau Douanier, rousseau h.
Biography
Henri Julien Félix Rousseau (French: [ɑ̃ʁi ʒyljɛ̃ feliks ʁuso]; 21 May 1844 – 2 September 1910) was a French post-Impressionist painter in the Naïve or Primitive manner. He was also known as Le Douanier (the customs officer), a humorous description of his occupation as a toll and tax collector. He started painting seriously in his early forties; by age 49, he retired from his job to work on his art full-time.
Ridiculed during his lifetime by critics, he came to be recognised as a self-taught genius whose works are of high artistic quality. Rousseau's work exerted an extensive influence on several generations of avant-garde artists.
Wikipedia contributors. Opening excerpt, formatted for reading. CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision.
Influenced by
- Jean-Léon Gérômeeditorial inference
Evidence
Wikidata assertion retained for review; its references, if supplied, have not been independently verified.
- Léon Bonnateditorial inference
Evidence
Wikidata assertion retained for review; its references, if supplied, have not been independently verified.
Later influence
- Max Beckmanneditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Alfred Sisleyeditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Fernand Légereditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Ben Nicholsoneditorial inference
Evidence
Reviewed the named influence and direction in the source passage. Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Bernard Buffeteditorial inference
Evidence
Wikidata assertion retained for review; its references, if supplied, have not been independently verified.
- Jean Metzingereditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Pablo Picassoeditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Robert Delaunayeditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Sonia Delaunayeditorial inference
Evidence
The biography identifies Rousseau among Delaunay's formative Paris influences. Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Felix Nussbaumeditorial inference
Evidence
The biography identifies Rousseau as an influence on Nussbaum's earlier work. Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Sidney Nolaneditorial inference
Evidence
The biography identifies Henri Rousseau as an artistic influence on Sidney Nolan. Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
Artworks by year
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Museums & collections
Documented holdings of works attributed to Henri Rousseau. Check the museum’s record for current display information.
- Art Institute of Chicago7 recorded works
- Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts6 recorded works
- Musée de l’Orangerie5 recorded works
- National Gallery of Art5 recorded works
- Kunsthaus Zürich3 recorded works
- Museum of Modern Art3 recorded works
- The Cleveland Museum of Art3 recorded works
- Gothenburg Museum of Art, Gothenburg, Sweden2 recorded works
- National Gallery2 recorded works
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art2 recorded works
- Detroit Institute of Arts1 recorded work
- Fondation Beyeler1 recorded work
- Hamburger Kunsthalle1 recorded work
- Hermitage Museum1 recorded work
- Kunstmuseum Basel1 recorded work
- musée des beaux-arts — Chambéry1 recorded work
- Musée National d'Art Moderne1 recorded work
- Musée Picasso1 recorded work
- Philadelphia Museum of Art1 recorded work
- Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA), Northampton, MA, US1 recorded work
- The Barnes Foundation1 recorded work
- The Phillips Collection1 recorded work
Sources 10
- Wikidata (CC0)
- National Gallery of Art
- Museum authority country review
- Pantheon 2025 — Datawheel (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Museum authority country review
- CH museum and gallery creator authorities
- US museum and gallery creator authorities
- Pantheon 2025 — Datawheel (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Expanded artwork research — official museum evidence
- Pantheon 2025 — Datawheel (CC BY-SA 4.0)
