Portrait of a primitive : the art of Henri Rousseau

"Henri Rousseau (1844-1910) is a strange figure in French 20th century art. He pursued his own simple untutored course throughout all the years when his contemporaries were experimenting with new styles and movements. Rousseau's simplicity and naivety were notorious and, always gullible, he often found himself the victim of practical jokers. But his own confidence in himself as an artist never wavered, even if others found it difficult to take him seriously. In some ways his paintings are very sophisticated, the design and colours worked out in rare and intricate detail. Their appeal lies at once in their directness and their depth."--Publisher's description