The iconic 1908 painting Exotic Landscape by French painter Henri Rousseau is a striking depiction of the painter’s unique style. In this work, Rousseau drew on his inspirations from the captive animals he observed at zoos in the Paris suburbs to create an exotic scene featuring wild oxen, monkeys, and a dead tiger. The painting evidences Rousseau’s lack of formal art training in its vibrant colors, angular forms, and unnatural scale. This style imbued his body of work with an irresistible sense of mystery and eccentricity.
Exotic Landscape is truly a unique work that captures the artist’s captivating vision and original expression. Viewers today can still be taken away by Henri Rousseau’s exotic compositions, particularly one such as Combat Of A Tiger And A Buffalo which was painted in 1909. Combining acute observation with vivid imagination, this painting perfectly encapsulates the artist’s distinct style and mastery of his craft.
