Walking in the Parc des Buttes Chaumont 1909

Henri Rousseau’s "Walking in the Parc des Buttes Chaumont" is, like so many of his paintings, made with simple materials and a striking colour palette. There’s something so special about the way Rousseau allows his process to be seen, almost celebrated. Looking closely, you can see how the trees in the park become these solid, almost geometric shapes, and the figures walking in the foreground are equally simplified. I’m especially drawn to the way he renders the foliage – it's a very deliberate, repetitive pattern. It’s almost as if each leaf is individually placed with its own distinct colour. The paint looks so flat and smooth, so controlled, but it somehow gives the whole scene a dreamy, slightly off-kilter feeling. Rousseau’s attention to these specific details makes me think of other self-taught artists like Alfred Wallis, who also had this incredible ability to translate their personal experiences into unique visual languages. It's a reminder that art is always about seeing the world in your own way.