Henri Rousseau: The Primitivist Visionary Born in Laval, France, in 1844, Henri Julien Félix Rousseau’s life was one of quiet transformation and unexpected artistic triumph. Initially destined for a practical trade – his father was a tinsmith – Rousseau’s early years were marked by hardship and a sense of displacement. He found solace not in the clang of metal but in drawing, a skill nurtured during his time at Laval High School. Despite a somewhat unremarkable academic record, he excelled in artistic pursuits, winning prizes for his sketches and musical abilities. This nascent talent led hi…