フランス西部のラヴァルに生まれました。パリ市の入市税関で働きながら、独学で絵を描きはじめます。そのため「税関吏ルソー」とよばれました。遠近法などは学校で習っていませんが、くっきりした形と不思議な空気の絵で、ピカソたち若い画家に愛されました。猛獣のいるジャングルの絵が有名です。
Rousseau was born in Laval in western France. He worked at a customs post at the edge of Paris and taught himself to paint. That is why he was called 'Le Douanier,' the customs officer. He never studied perspective at an art school. But his clear shapes and dreamlike mood won the love of young artists like Picasso. He is famous for his jungle scenes with wild animals.
