Le Douanier Rousseau L'innocence Archaïque

Exhibition at Musée d'Orsay, Paris, 22 Mars - 17 July 2016

The unique work of Henri Rousseau (1844-1910), the master of naïve art, is fully in line with his time. By confronting his painting to some of his sources of inspiration and to works by avant-garde artists, this exhibition catalogue is a critical examination of the idea of archaism in his art.

Henri Rousseau's masterworks coming from the collections of the musée d'Orsay and musée de l'Orangerie are compared to works lent by the most prestigious international institutions. Works by Seurat, Delaunay, Kandinsky or Picasso, but also by lesser known artists, allow to mention the richness of the connections established around the Douanier Rousseau.