Albert Rousseau was a Canadian painter born in Saint-Étienne-de-Lauzon, Quebec in 1908. Rousseau attended the École des beaux-arts de Québec at the age of 16, where he was awarded several prizes and medals. His objective after leaving art school was to devote his time to painting his country and its natural scenery. Rousseau also painted the great landscapes of Charlevoix with his friend and fellow artist Marc-Aurèle Fortin, as well as René Richard.
In 1939, Rousseau exhibited a painting at the "Salon du Printemps" of the "Galerie des arts de Montréal", where he later on became a frequent visitor. Throughout the following years, Rousseau continued to win many prizes and opened his first Country Exhibition in his studio in 1964. The works of all the artists and Rousseau’s students attending his studio were on display during this two-day country exhibition.
Rousseau's career continued and his art never stopped evolving. In fact, he once told a reporter, "We sign our death warrant the day we stop evolving." From 1975 on, he reduced the pace of his travels abroad, but not the pace of his painting. The artist created artworks full of joy and colour until his sudden death in 1982 at the age of 73.
During his long career, Rousseau took pleasure in experimenting with various materials and techniques, painting in oil or watercolor, using polymers and glaze, drawing with Chinese pencil or engraving copper, inventing his nudes or abstractions on linen, cotton canvas or on plexiglass or wood, translating the family home into pictorial language.
Rousseau became an internationally renowned landscape painter whose work has been exhibited in Canada, the United States and Europe. We are honored to have a few of his works in our gallery for you to enjoy.
