Henri Rousseau, the Ambition of Painting

A major exhibition devoted to the painter Henri Rousseau, a major figure in naive art, at the Musée de l'Orangerie

The Musée de l'Orangerie is devoting a major exhibition to the painter Henri Rousseau (1844-1910), also known as Le Douanier Rousseau, a member of the naïve art movement. The exhibition features some 50 works from the collections of the Musée de l'Orangerie, the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia and other cultural institutions, including "La Bohémienne endormie", a masterpiece from the Museum of Modern Art in New York. This retrospective recounts the career of the Douanier Rousseau, who loved to paint exotic scenes and animals in imaginary jungles. It also highlights the artist's relationships with his collectors, notably art dealer Paul Guillaume and American collector Albert Barnes. On view from 25 March to 20 July 2026.