Henri Rousseau, the ambition of painting: an exhibition on the Douanier at the Musée de l'Orangerie

Known as Le Douanier Rousseau, Henri Rousseau was an important 19th-century painter and one of the most significant artists of the naïve art movement. Self-taught, he drew inspiration from illustrated books to imagine exotic landscapes and jungle scenes populated by unusual animals he had never seen with his own eyes. 

But behind the well-known figure of Le Douanier lies a more complex painter, richer than he appears. The Musée de l'Orangerie wishes to highlight Henri Rousseau through a retrospective exhibition that immerses us in the world of this astonishing artist.

From March 25 to July 20, 2026, the Musée de l'Orangerie will present the exhibition Henri Rousseau, the Ambition of Painting. This exhibition is organized in collaboration with the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia (United States). Both institutions house important works by Rousseau in their collections. The exhibition brings together some fifty paintings, some of which are very well known but rarely shown in France. 

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To go beyond legends and preconceived ideas, the exhibition delves deeply into the painter's life and career to shed light on little-known facets. 

Through the works, we discover how Henri Rousseau entered the art world, his artistic practice and techniques, and his unique style, influenced by his unusual career path. The exhibition also focuses on his ambitions as a painter, his successes, and his place among collectors and art dealers. The exhibition highlights the painter's ability to evolve and adapt in order to be accepted in Parisian artistic circles or to fulfill private commissions from clients.

Landscapes, portraits, and self-portraits: Henri Rousseau produced a large catalog of works, which are now exhibited in various countries. The Musée de l'Orangerie has brought together a significant selection of these paintings for this thematic exhibition , which can be seen in Paris this spring .