Henri Rousseau (1844–1910), *Paysage Exotique* (Exotic Landscape), 1976 (1894)

An original color lithograph created using the traditional method on limestone, printed on high-quality vellum paper; dimensions: 42 x 72 cm (inside the mat), 69 x 75 cm (with the mat); limited edition, hand-numbered in pencil 30/300; signature embossed as a dry seal, authenticated by the publisher’s dry seal “Les Imprimeries Parisiennes” at the bottom right, with the artist’s estate’s approval confirmed by a dry seal at the bottom left. Gallery certificate of authenticity.
Henri Rousseau is considered one of the most important artists of the 20th century, and his paintings are held in the world’s leading museums. Rousseau’s work has influenced many artists, including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Fernand Léger. His unique style and imagination have inspired—and continue to inspire—artists around the world. During his lifetime, Rousseau was not appreciated by critics or the public. His naive style was often ridiculed and considered a lack of skill. However, over time, as modern art evolved, his work began to be appreciated by artists, critics, and collectors. Giants such as Pablo Picasso and Guillaume Apollinaire were in awe of him. They saw in him someone who was able to preserve a pure, uninhibited imagination—one that professional painters, even after years of training, often envied.
To this day, his works exude tranquility, mystery, and a kind of “magical realism” that makes this jungle seem more real than the actual one.
This work contains all of Rousseau’s hallmarks: Monkeys with “human” faces (Rousseau often painted animals in a somewhat anthropomorphic manner). The monkeys in the painting look as if they are taking part in some strange, almost ceremonial ritual, holding oranges (or other exotic fruits), scale and perspective (the flowers—such as the white ones on the sides—are enormous compared to the trees. In Rousseau’s work, the size of elements often stemmed from their compositional importance rather than the laws of physics, as well as the depth of the greenery). The artist was able to use dozens of shades of green to create the impression of dense foliage, even though the painting is quite “flat” in terms of perspective). Rousseau’s greatest paradox is that he never left France. Although his paintings are full of exotic plants and wild animals, his only “expeditions” were to the Paris Botanical Garden (Jardin des Plantes) and the zoo.
Henri Rousseau’s paintings fetch very high prices on the art market. His works are prized for their unique naive style, vibrant colors, and fantastical motifs. Rousseau’s most expensive paintings command prices in the millions of dollars.