Dropping in on Rousseau - Video Recording Review

Arts & Activities, Dec, 2002 by Barbara Herberholz

Video/26 min./Teacher's Guide/ $29.95. Level: Grades K-6. Crystal Productions, P.O. Box 2159, Glenview, IL 60025, (800) 255-8629.

Viewers of any age will find this lively video informative and delightful. It may be viewed in segments or in its entirety. It begins with an animated bird working as a reporter who drops in on Henri Rousseau, who accompanies him as they look at six of this great artist's paintings. Rousseau describes the subject matter in each and discusses the composition in a manner calculated to arouse and maintain the interest of the viewers.

The two characters then stop by Rousseau's wife's stationery store--where Rousseau's paintings were on display--and she joins the discussion. Rousseau is confident that his works will someday be included in famous museums. They give a brief greeting to artists who were living at the same time--Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Hendri di Toulouse-Lautrec. Rousseau gives us interesting biographical information, including how he achieved his nickname, "Le Douanier" (customs official).

The Teacher's Guide provides additional information on the paintings included in the video: Tropical Forest with Monkeys, Carnival Evening, The Cart of Father Juniet, The Sleeping Gypsy, The Football Players and Negro Attacked By a Jaguar. Comments encourage viewers to look for details such as the absence of footprints in the sand that would have been made by the sleeping gypsy, but that aren't there. A highly recommended video.--B.H. For information about this program, circle No. 395 on the Reader Service Card.