The Equatorial Jungle
1909 National Gallery of Art
About this artwork
This oil painting on canvas features a dense, lush jungle landscape populated by monkeys hidden among large tropical leaves and flowers. It is one of many jungle scenes created by the artist, who was known for his imaginative, dream-like depictions of exotic flora and fauna.
Did you know?
Henri Rousseau, a self-taught tax collector, never actually traveled to a jungle; his vivid tropical scenes were inspired by frequent visits to the botanical gardens in Paris and illustrated encyclopedias. His highly stylized, flat approach to perspective initially drew mockery from contemporary critics, but he was later championed by avant-garde masters like Picasso, who recognized the raw, visionary power of his work.
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The Equatorial Jungle
Henri Rousseau, 1909
