Why Is This Woman in the Jungle? 

So interesting! I love that idea that Rousseau "paints in a language of nouns." So perfect. -John

I remember when my dad and I first saw Rousseau's work the first thing we noticed was that the bananas were growing upside down. We had bananas in our backyard in Brazil and that foliage was clearly done by someone who had never been out of France.

It's a shame how the art community treated him. I wish he could have experienced some of the acclaim his works now receive before his death. Great video, thank you!

One thing I really like about Rousseau’s is the “neatness” of his designs. Everything is stylized and posed just so, in a way that inadvertently reveals that his exotic paintings are idealized and not drawn from messy nature; the way Paul Gauguin’s is. Rousseau’s is idealistic and imaginative. Gauguin’s is raw, voyeuristic, almost ogling.

Henri Rousseau is my great, great uncle on my mother's side. When the family immigrated over, they changed their last name to "Rasso" to make it easier to pronounce and spell, which is my mother's maiden name. Pretty cool video!

I’ve always liked Henri Rousseau’s work, especially _The Dream._ There’s something about the luxurious deep red velvet of the sofa against the vivid green forest flora that is very compelling. His paintings have the quality of illustrations for a children’s book-they’re colorful, unpretentious, direct, and, in a way, magical. Thanks for this video about his work.

This is inspiring me to KEEP MAKING ART! Everyone has a point of view that is special and unlike others. With formal training Rousseau would not have created the art he is renowned for. Thank u art assignment for this great message!!!

Absolutely one of my favorite painters. When I was a child and saw The Sleeping Gypsy, I fell in love with it. I wanted to sleep just like that, on the sand, under the moon and stars... and a lion sniffing my head. 😀 it was unforgettable. It transported me to a place I though only existed in my imagination. Now, 40 years later, I still go to the MoMA and stand in front of it for as long as I can. Thank you so much for this.

Rousseau is one of my favorite artists. His work has so much life, color, and softness in brush strokes and pure colors.

I had never seen these paintings before, actually. Thanks for sharing

I absolutely love le Douanier Rousseau and I also love how your team presented his story and this specific painting! The script, the editing... Everything is on point! Stay inspiring!

“Rousseau walks on trumpet paths
Safaris to the heart of all that jazz” The Jungle Line - Joni Mitchell

Confidence in the vision and persistence to carry it out... I think that all of us could perhaps strive to develop (or to mature) such traits. To not be afraid, to not be turned aside even in the face of mockery and derision...that's incredible to me. I can't imagine that for myself as I am today. But this man "got started" at 49 years old? I'm not fifty yet, so maybe I can do better too.

I used a few of his painting with my elementary students to discuss spatial depth. The kids loved his paintings.

This is why the art assignment is my favorite youtube channel. Great video!

I really love videos which give a breakdown the composition of a painting, but then contextualize it in the art movements of the time, and within the life of the artist. I would binge an entire playlist of videos like these. More, please!

This reminds me of bands like The Shaggs who were initially made fun of because the members were all children who had almost no musical training, but later on experimental musicians praised their music because it was so honest and didn't follow the traditional "rules" of music

I love the un-irony of Rousseau, the painter, embodying the writings of Rousseau, the philosopher. I mean, even the subject matter looks similar xD

What a great review. I love her voice. Some of these other art critics seem to feel compelled to whisper in their best sexy voice. It gets quite annoying. Loved the energy. It suits Rousseau’s work. Loved it!

I was able to visit Prague national gallery when they exhibited paintings by Rousseau, and i still vividly remember his The Snake Charmer painting, it was huge but so intimate and the same time and so fresh and calm. You can really feel joy from his work. So thank u Art Assignment for refreshing up my memories. PS: I wish team behind this channel amazing 2020 ! luv ya.

I started university as an architecture student. Its curriculum included several art classes. I really liked the creativeness of composing art. One of my professors told me I should be an art major. I was flattered. Well, eventually I dropped out and reenrolled in aeronautics at another university. In my small studio apartment, I hung two of Rousseau's works, The Jungle and The Sleeping Gypsy. They had a calming effect on the stress associated with studies and to this day, I thank Rousseau for helping me to eventually graduate..

I can always count on the Art Assignment to make my day !Great video as always !

Thank you for the great content!This channel never disappoints. Thank you from a big Spanish fan.

I really loved this video. I’ve always really disliked this painting because I find it somewhat unsettling but this video definitely made me question why that is and showed me what makes this painting so special. I’m still not 100% on board but I’m definitely going to question other art opinions I once thought were set in stone.

You do such a good job of presenting art and artists. Thank you.

I love how the lilly-like flowers bring your attention across the painting

Lovely! More of this kind please, thank you!

Oh God, you have no idea how I enjoyed this video. Truly educative. I learned (so much!) new things. Thank you so much! Please keep this series up! (Better Know [paintings/painters])

I was in an art competition a few years back, and one of the judges commented on my painting, saying it had a Rousseau feeling to it, and categorized it as naive art. I was unaware of what naive art meant, and was slightly offended, but since she mentioned an artists name I was familiar with, I thought it couldn't have been that bad. 😄 it sparked my interest on what naive art was, and why it was called that, and I had no idea that's what Rousseau's style was called. I didn't know she was actually giving me a high compliment... It led me to start studying the naive artists, and found out it's also called outsider art..now I'm happy to have been labeled as that style, and certainly even mentioned in the same company as Rousseau. I've loved this painting for it's dense, rich, dreamlike subject matter, and its round, smooth lines and shapes. If only he knew what prestigious venues his art lives in today.

I love this channel because it makes me look at something I’ve seen so many times before with entirely new perspective!

So it was Rousseau who painted that artwork I saw as a child on a book. I remembered gazing at the large peering eyes of the lions and the weirdly elongated nose of the musician. It was strange, but I loved looking at it. The book only showed the musician part and so I'm quite surprised to see that it included a reclining woman.

I'm visiting the Museum of Modern Art next month! I sure will spend more time with this painting then I would have otherwise. Thanks!

I just want to say this is the BEST art channel that is out there. I am obsessed thank you! For all the great inspirational and eye-opening sentiments. 💕💕💕🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 I can’t wait to see more!😃

I was excited to see Starry Night then I audibly gasped when I saw The Dream, they're in the same room. I was impressed by the size and the light coming from it. I haven't had this experience with any other painting before.

one of my favorite painting and artist of all time

I love learning about different artists throughout history because I start to notice similarities in modern works. In particular, I see Henri Rousseau's influence in many of my favorite illustrators.

Never heard of him but now these paintings peaked my interest

I had a poster of this painting on my bedroom wall as a kid. It's still one of my favorites, so evocative. Nice to see so many of his other works in this video too, thanks!

Fantastic, informative and entertaining mini documentary. Really hope to see many more like it. Much appreciated. Thanks.

I love this! It looks like some illustration from a fantasy novel!

Great explanation! I've seen this paintings many times, now I'll go next week to MoMA and "see" it with new eyes!

Watching this brought tears to my eyes.

I absolutely adore The Art Series. I've learned soooo much about art. Thank you. PS It's a shame so many artists due before they receive the well deserved acclaim they deserve.

Always loved Rousseau thank you for this, somehow reminds me of Diego Rivera in style

He's very imaginative and creative.

I of course love all of The Art Assignment's videos, but this is MY FAVORITE! As a huge fan of Rousseau's, I learned so much about him thanks to you. AND I got even more inspired by him. What a fascinating mini documentary....so many mind-blowing, never-before-seen-by-me images. Thank you thank you thank you!

Wouah ! I was very impressed by your French accent! John's 3 years of high school did not make him as French-sounding I would say :p Anyway, very good video!

This is a great video but it reminded me that sestinas exist, and for that, my creative writing major soul has withered with the memory of having to write them.

I've seen this painting in person many times and I never realised the orange was the underbody for a black snake! Thank you

Thanks you so much, Art Assignment, for this valuable lesson.

Best channel regarding art. Period.

I honestly cannot express much I love Rousseau's work

This painting is huge! I saw it in person at the MoMA. I distinctly remember a little kid running up to it and putting both of his hands on it......

I needed this today. Thank you so very much!

To me, Rousseau's tableau reminds me of Art Deco architecture. The orb objects and some lines just make that architecture style springs to my mind.

Great!!! Thank you.💙

Thank you so much for the lovely and moving essay!!!

Oooo I never noticed the snake face! Really interesting video, loved it!

i just love your passion and the way you talk about art, keep up the good work ❤️

What a masterful exploration! I love how you cover the piece from so many different aspects and angles, from the work itself and what makes it visually compelling and arresting, to the background and history of the the artist, to the greater context of the world, and into the nature art world and the/its philosophies of the day. Thank you so much for digging into all these details, I appreciate the painting so much more now and see art of the period in a broader light. :)

God, what freaking genius.

Great Video! One of my favourite paintings

I love your videos! Would you consider doing a series on architecture?

It reminds me of ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ illustrations.

To my eyes "The Dream" is vaguely reminiscent of Maurice Sendak's illustrations from "Where the Wild Things Are".

So good!

I never knew who this painter was before! I grew up with Rousseau's artwork but I never knew his name, his work was super influential in my taste and style :)

I usually try my best to understand art and not outright dislike it. But this one stands up, i like the artist's style

I would love to see that painting in person.

In France, I've only heard him be called le Douanier Rousseau, thought that was his actual name haha

I enjoy this channel so much!

I love you guys’ channel so much!!

Thanks, I love these.

Fantastic video!!

First time seeing it and it's amazing great video !

i have been collecting haitian art since 1973 and i find very many haitian paintings resemble rousseau's style and themes. i wonder if his work had an influence on the emerging art scene in haiti in the 1940's?

I'd always thought of him as a folk artist, but you've made a good case that he could just as easily be called a surrealist.

Wow he was good, it reminds me of the album art on some Villa Lobos by Julian Bream.

When I was in art school, when my teachers wanted to "softly" criticize drawing/painting, they ussually said stuff like "It's too much of an Andrew Loomis / Bob Ross". I'd like to know if that's a common thing among art school teachers, or if I just got a set of unlikely, homogenically, pretensious artsy fartsy one :P

To me, this guy exemplifies the case for new ideas and being yourself and doing your own thing and the degeneration of insular values in tradition and pretense that may not always be better or may hold people back. That people around him who thought they were better couldn't see his merit is typical of people in general and how they hold back good things and therefor themselves as a species. His work produces a result rather than being just a commentary. Everything has merits, but personally I would prefer to look at his style over alot of it's contemporary examples of mastery. I would put this on my wall or try to emulate it before emulating the more classical rules he was criticized for not knowing. You can't objectively argue with a result you like.

In Polish it's pronounced /jadˈvʲiɡa/, you can listen to it by searching for Jadwiga of Poland on Wikipedia =)

Genius alway shines brightly

Great video. It seems naive art is still present and gaining popularity. Can the Art Assignment provide more on this?

The couch upon which the woman reclines, was originally bright, blood red. However, because of a drier that Rousseau used in this particular red, it has deteriorated through the years. At least, that is what I remember reading somewhere before.

He had an interesting style of painting.

his composition reminds me of wes andersons movie lol

June Troup has the same style. Her work is in Springfield Missouri

Seen it many times in textbooks and in real life. Never noticed the musician 😓

Rousseau was celebrated by Picasso and other Parisian artists in a wild drinking party climaxing in the poet André Salmon having to be confined in a closet after eating Alice B. Toklas' hat and a box of matches. The younger artists, perhaps some of them ironically, did value and celebrate this magical individual. The photo at :43 just kills me!

love it!!

so interesting

I 'found' Rosseau and his paintings 2 years ago after watching National Geographic's Genius series xD

me @ art elites making fun of rousseau: YA BASIC!

🙄. 💝💝💝. 🤔 My favourite Painting. 💝

This reminds me of Francis Bacon who was also self taught and had a unique method and viewpoint which shaped his body of work in a way that could not have been achieved had he received formal training from a young age.

I think Rousseau is a clear influence on art in the Mana video game series, which is always rich with foliage. Look up the cover art for Secret of Mana to see what I mean.

Just realised that in the title, the words "Better Know:" are strategically placed 😆

It was a large poster on my wall when I was a student . . .

You mentioned that he had to acquire a licence for copying paintings in the Louvre. When I visited the Potrait Gallery in London (I wandered around and got curious about the museum) there were a lot of people in there painting or sketching the paintings in there. Was that something similar? Is that something like an event at museums?

Jean Michel Basquiat next?