Henri Rousseau was a French painter of the Post-Impressionist period. His paintings tended to be of jungle scenes, though he never left his home country. While his Primitivist art was generally ridiculed by most of his contemporaries, Pablo Picasso recognized his merits.
In September 1908, Rousseau was the guest of honor at a party thrown by Picasso in the upstairs of Le Lapin Agile. Attending this party were many who were part of the Montmartre art and cultural scene, including Georges Braque, Gertrude Stein, Fernande Olivier, and Mr. Kahnweiler. Two young boys also attended the costumed fete, Indiana Jones and Norman Rockwell.
After mentioning that he and Picasso were the best painters around, Rousseau was persuaded to tell a ghost story from his spot on a upper landing. As he dimmed the lights, Rousseau told a tale that caught the audience's attention - and when the door opened, and Miss Seymour appeared, crashing the party in search of the boys, Indy let out a scared yell. For entering uninvited, and interrupting Rousseau's story, Picasso drew his pistol and took Miss Seymour aside.
It is not known whether Rousseau got to finish his story.
Behind the scenes
Robert Manuel played Henri Rousseau in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles: "Paris, September 1908".
The historical 1908 party for Rousseau was not actually held at Le Lapin Agile, but at Picasso's studio.
