Henri Rousseau: A Pioneer of Naïve Vision Henri Julien Félix Rousseau, born in Laval, France, in 1844, was a figure whose life and art defied easy categorization. Initially destined for a career as a government employee, Rousseau’s path dramatically shifted when he abandoned his job at age forty-nine to pursue the passionate calling of painting. This decision marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey into a world of vibrant col…