Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets
Until February 22, 2026
See the inventive works of Henri Rousseau in a new light.
Henri Rousseau. Scouts Attacked by a Tiger (detail), 1904. The Barnes Foundation, BF584. Public Domain.
Adults $30; seniors $28 (tickets good for 2 days); students $5; members free
About the Exhibition
“An expansive, enchanting survey that highlights the artist’s magic and sophistication alike.” —The Wall Street Journal
“A must-see. . . The exhibition offers what many exhibitions promise but do not always deliver—an engrossing new take on an artist we thought we knew.” —Art & Object
A once-in-a-generation exhibition. A visionary artist revealed.
Step into the lush, hypnotic world of Henri Rousseau, one of the boldest forces in modern art.
Born in 1844, and with no formal art training, Rousseau defied the odds to become a cult figure to avant-garde legends such as Pablo Picasso. His paintings—dreamlike, symbolic, and deeply strange—range from imaginative visions of the jungle to portraits that capture his neighbors and loved ones.
Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets is the first major US exhibition in decades dedicated to this pioneering French painter. Featuring nearly 60 works—including world-famous highlights like The Sleeping Gypsy, The Snake Charmer, and Unpleasant Surprise—the exhibition invites you to see Rousseau in a whole new light.
Don’t miss this world-premiere exhibition that unveils new research discoveries—including hidden layers beneath some of Rousseau’s celebrated paintings—and brings together, for the first time, the two most important Rousseau collections in the world, those of the Barnes Foundation and the Musée de l’Orangerie, Paris.
Timed-entry tickets expected to sell out—reserve early to guarantee your visit.
Highlights
This trio of iconic paintings—never seen together before—anchors a sweeping exhibition that explores the enigma of Rousseau and uncovers secrets about his work, his life, and his relationship with the art world.
The Snake Charmer, 1907. Musée d’Orsay, Paris. Image © Musée d’Orsay, dist. GrandPalaisRmn / Patrice Schmidt
The Sleeping Gypsy, 1897. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gift of Mrs. Simon Guggenheim, 1939. Image © The Museum of Modern Art / Licensed by Scala / Art Resource, New York
Henri Rousseau. Unpleasant Surprise, 1901. The Barnes Foundation, BF281. Public Domain.
Exhibition Organization
Developed in partnership with the Musée de l’Orangerie, Paris, Henri Rousseau: A Painter's Secrets is curated by Christopher Green, consulting curator, Professor Emeritus at the Courtauld Institute of Art, London, and Nancy Ireson, Deputy Director for Collections and Exhibitions & Gund Family Chief Curator at the Barnes, with the support of Juliette Degennes, curator at the Musée de l’Orangerie.
Related Programs
Member Previews
Thursday, October 16–Saturday, October 18
Members are invited to view Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets before the exhibition’s public opening.
Curators in Conversation
Sunday, October 19, 1 pm
Join us for an engaging talk about A Painter’s Secrets featuring co-curators Christopher Green and Nancy Ireson. Though self-taught, Henri Rousseau was a professional artist who made paintings for both known and potential clients. This exhibition examines how he adapted his style and subject matter to meet their interests while pursuing his personal passion for art.
Exhibition Tours
Thursday–Monday, 1 pm
This one-hour tour highlights key works in this landmark exhibition, the most significant showcase of the artist’s work in decades. Includes access to the exhibition and Barnes collection before and after the tour.
Private Exhibition Tours
Thursday–Monday
Private tours are available Thursday through Monday at 10 am, 11 am, 2 pm, and 3 pm, depending on the day. Reservations are required, and tours must be requested at least four days in advance. To learn more about pricing or to reserve a tour, call 215.278.7200. Includes access to the exhibition and collection before and after the tour.
Members-Only Exhibition Tours
Mondays & Thursdays, October 23–February 19, 2–3 pm
Members are invited to an exclusive tour of A Painter’s Secrets.
Members-Only Online Exhibition Tours
Wednesdays, October 29, November 19, and December 17, 2–3 pm
Members are invited to exclusive online tours of A Painter’s Secrets. Registration is required. Registrants will be emailed a link for the tour the day prior.
PECO Free First Sunday Family Day
November 2, December 7, January 4, February 1; 10 am–4 pm
On the first Sunday of every month, the Barnes partners with PECO to offer a free day of family fun. Along with art making, educational activities, and featured performances, the event includes access to the collection and A Painter’s Secrets.
First Friday
November 7, December 5, January 2, February 6; 6–9 pm
Enjoy an evening of art, live music, and light fare on the first Friday of each month, with access to A Painter’s Secrets and the collection.
Rousseau Film Series
Saturdays, November 8, December 13, January 10
This series, curated by BlackStar Film Festival founder Maori Karmael Holmes, reflects on themes in Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets.
Related Classes
In Focus: Henri Rousseau
On demand
Get ready for the exhibition by exploring multiple facets of Rousseau’s work in a self-paced online class. This course delves into the artist’s unusual approach to portraiture, his fantastical jungle scenes, his responses to contemporary life, and the sense of disquiet that permeates his entire oeuvre. With our deep-zoom technology, you can examine individual leaves, a tiger’s claws, or a fisherman’s bait and revel in the details that make Rousseau’s mysterious worlds so distinct. Instructors: Martha Lucy and Naina Saligram
Primitivism and Modern Art
Fridays, November 7–December 5, 2–4 pm
Artists like Picasso and Gauguin looked beyond Europe, drawing on African and Oceanic art to revolutionize modern art. This online course investigates the complex legacy of primitivism, focusing on how artists interpreted and adapted these influences. It also examines the work of self-taught artists who defied labels, including Rousseau. Instructor: Alison Boyd
Exhibition Seminar: Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets
Tuesday, November 18, Tuesday, December 9, and Tuesday, February 3, 10 am–noon or 2–4 pm
Explore the dreamlike imagery of Rousseau face-to-face in our exhibition gallery. Instructor: Martha Lucy
Catalogue
Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets
This publication offers a comprehensive study of the 18 Rousseaus in the Barnes collection and places them in dialogue with works from around the globe, including those housed at the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris. Working closely with Barnes conservation staff, curators Christopher Green and Nancy Ireson consider Rousseau’s novel artistic practice, explore his process of adapting works to new purposes, and examine how Rousseau navigated the art world. Hardcover; 336 pages
Sponsors
Henri Rousseau: A Painter's Secrets at the Barnes is sponsored by:
Key support is provided by Gwendolyn M. Asplundh, The Family of Laura Buck, and Marlene and Brian Dooner. Additional support is provided by Julie Jensen Bryan and Robert* Bryan; The Dean Family; Dietz & Watson; James Fernberger and Mary Walto; Mindy and Thaddeus Fortin; Meghan and Anthony Fotopoulos; Amy Fox and Daniel Wheeler; Deborah E. Glass; Margaret Hallenbeck; Margaret Harris and Phil Straus; Penelope P. Harris; James and Pam Hill; LAGOS; Judy and Leonard* Lauder; Robert Lehman Foundation; The Lowe, Bernbaum and Weinstein Families; Barbara A. Podell and Mark G. Singer; Stephanie Simmerman; Smukler Lasch Charitable Trust; Josephine and Sam Switzenbaum; Harriet and Larry Weiss; Kristin and Tobias Welo; and other generous individuals.
Ongoing funding for exhibitions comes from the Christine and Michael Angelakis Exhibition Fund, Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz Exhibition Fund, Lois and Julian Brodsky Exhibition Fund, Elaine W. Camarda and A. Morris Williams, Jr. Exhibition Fund, Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Christine and George Henisee Exhibition Fund, Aileen and Brian Roberts Exhibition Fund, and Tom and Margaret Lehr Whitford Exhibition Fund.
Lead support for the exhibition publication is provided by the Richard C. von Hess Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Lois and Julian Brodsky Publications Fund, Joan Garde, and Tom and Margaret Lehr Whitford.
This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.
In addition, funding for all exhibitions comes from contributors to the Barnes Foundation Exhibition Fund:
Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz, Joan Carter and John Aglialoro, Julia and David Fleischner, Victoria McNeil Le Vine, Leigh and John Middleton, Jeanette and Joe Neubauer, and Aileen and Brian Roberts.
John Alchin and Hal Marryatt, Lois and Julian Brodsky, N. Judith Broudy, Emily and Michael Cavanagh, Marianne N. Dean, Eugene and Michelle Dubay, Penelope P. Harris, Jones & Wajahat Family, Lisa D. Kabnick and John H. McFadden, Victor F. Keen and Jeanne Ruddy, Marguerite Lenfest, Maribeth and Steven Lerner, Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation, Hilarie and Mitchell Morgan, Cathy and Henry Nassau, The Park Family, Wendy and Mark Rayfield, Anne and Bruce Robinson, Adele K. Schaeffer, Katie and Tony Schaeffer, Donna and Jerry Slipakoff, Dr. and Mrs. Eugene E. Stark, Joan F. Thalheimer, Bruce and Robbi Toll, van Beuren Charitable Foundation, Kirsten White, and Randi Zemsky and Bob Lane.
*posthumous recognition
Go Further
In Focus: Henri Rousseau
Study Rousseau’s enigmatic paintings using our state-of-the-art interactive platform. Zoom in on his strange imagery, and discover why Rousseau continues to captivate.
Rousseau Film Series: Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
This series, curated by BlackStar Film Festival founder Maori Karmael Holmes, reflects on themes in Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets.