“His tiger surprising its prey is a 'must-see'; it's the alpha and omega of painting and so disconcerting that... the most deeply rooted convictions are held up and questioned.” 

What did Swiss painter Félix Vallotton mean with this enthusiastic reaction to Rousseau’s work? Picasso too, was a huge admirer of Rousseau’s highly original paintings, in which he saw more power and a greater authenticity than that of his formally trained contemporaries.  

Join us to take a closer look at Rousseau and his background as a self-taught artist whose work and style was distinctly not the result of years of tuition at a traditional art school. Starting from the Rousseau paintings in our collection such as our 2024 Take One Picture  ‘Surprised,’ and recent acquisition ‘Portrait of Joseph Brummer,’ we will explore Rousseau’s work and consider how his dynamic and unique paintings came into being and how his work resonates with audiences of the past and audiences today.