Théodore Rousseau

Théodore Rousseau was French landscape painter. His aims, style and development are characteristic of the Barbizon School, of which he was one of the major members. Like others in the group he suffered great suffering as a result of his attempts to introduce a non-academic landscape style. He was known as 'le grand refuse', because of his systematic exclusion from the Paris Salon between 1836 and 1841 and his no participation between 1842 and 1849. His pictures are always grave in character, with an air of exquisite melancholy. They are well finished when they profess to be completed pictures, but Rousseau spent so much time developing his subjects that his absolutely completed works are comparatively few. He left many canvases with parts of the picture realized in detail and with the remainder somewhat indistinct; and also a huge number of sketches and water-color drawings. His pen work in monochrome on paper is rare.