The artwork “Mandrill in the Jungle” was painted by Henri Rousseau in 1909. It exemplifies the Naïve Art movement, particularly Primitivism, and embodies the genre of wildlife painting. The work measures a modest 19 by 24 centimeters and currently resides within a private collection.
This artwork presents a vivid, textured depiction of a mandrill set against a lush jungle backdrop. The central figure, a mandrill, is rendered with striking facial features, particularly its distinctive red and blue nose, which immediately draws the viewer’s attention. The animal’s fur is depicted with varied shades of brown and a meticulous brushwork that suggests softness and depth. Around the mandrill, various shades of green foliage create a rich tapestry of jungle flora, demonstrating Rousseau’s attention to the complexities of a wild, natural environment. Light and shadow are used effectively to give the sense of a dense jungle environment that both envelops and highlights the creature. Despite the small scale of the painting, the artwork conveys a sense of the grandeur and variety of the jungle through the careful arrangement of color and meticulous detail.
