Henri Rousseau: A Pioneer of Naïve Vision Henri Julien Félix Rousseau, born in Laval, France, in 1844, was a figure who defied the conventions of his time and ultimately became a pivotal influence on generations of artists. His life began modestly, marked by early hardship and a brief stint as a government employee before he discovered his true calling: painting. Unlike many artists of his era who sought formal training and adherence to academic standards, Rousseau embarked on an entirely self-taught artistic journey, a path that would profoundly shape the unique character of his work. This…