Rousseau Henri, Le Douanier Rousseau (dit) (1844-1910). Paris, musÈe d'Orsay. RF1937-7.

La charmeuse de serpents

A Douanier Rousseau masterpiece in Laval

A masterpiece on home soil
An exceptional event not to be missed.

At the Musée d’Art naïf et d’Arts singuliers in Laval, discover La Charmeuse de serpents by Douanier Rousseau, on loan from the Musée d’Orsay as part of the “100 œuvres pour le climat” program. A fascinating encounter between the work and the artist’s native land.

A Major Cultural Event

in Laval

A major first for Laval! La Charmeuse de serpents (1907), a masterpiece by Douanier Rousseau, is being exhibited for the first time in its creator’s hometown, from March 15 to July 13, 2025. Thanks to an exceptional loan from the Musée d’Orsay, this masterpiece of naive painting will be on display at MANAS – Musée d’Art Naïf et d’Arts Singuliers for four months.

This return to our roots is part of the “100 works for the climate” program, a Musée d’Orsay initiative designed to showcase masterpieces throughout France. It’s a unique opportunity for Lavallois residents and visitors to discover this fascinating work in a new setting, in dialogue with the city and the museum, which has been promoting naïve and singular art for decades.

Le Douanier Rousseau

An artist to (Re)discover

Born in Laval in 1844, Henri Rousseau is one of the most emblematic figures of naive painting. Nicknamed “Le Douanier” because of his job at the Paris octroi office, he devoted himself fully to painting from the age of 49.

Initially derided by critics, he eventually attracted the attention of avant-garde artists of the early 20th century, including Guillaume Apollinaire, Alfred Jarry, Robert Delaunay and Pablo Picasso. His distinctive style, halfway between innocence and exoticism, seduces with its dreamlike universe and vibrant compositions.

La Charmeuse de serpents is one of his most famous works. Commissioned by Robert Delaunay’s mother, it depicts an enigmatic woman playing a flute in the heart of a lush jungle, surrounded by snakes fascinated by her music. A mystical, bewitching atmosphere, where nature takes on the appearance of a dream…

Aube d'un Eden

An Immersive and Sensory Exhibition

Exposition Aube d'un Éden - Du 15 mars au 13 juillet 2025

The arrival of La Charmeuse de serpents in Laval is an opportunity for MANAS to present a unique exhibition: Aube d’un Éden. More than a simple tribute, this exhibition invites us to reflect on the legacy of Douanier Rousseau and his influence on artists past and present.

To take this artistic immersion a step further, the exhibition offers a multi-sensory approach that stimulates the sense of hearing and smell:

Sound immersion with Romain Barthélémy
Olfactory signature by Les Jardins de Carbay Hills

Through a renewed itinerary, complementary works and immersive scenography, visitors are invited to enter the fascinating world of Douanier Rousseau and question their own relationship with dreams and nature.

Cultural Scheduling

Rich and varied

To accompany the exhibition, MANAS is offering an original cultural program accessible to all. From March to July, the exhibition will be accompanied by a number of special events, such as

The charm of colors” creative workshop

With your family, discover the world of Douanier Rousseau and the history of cameo colors. Now it’s your turn to pick up your pencils and sublimate La Charmeuse de serpents.

Guided tours with VR headsets

These visits introduce you to the exhibition, the world of the artist, a self-taught naive painter, and his Black Eve, presented in a disturbing Eden. The visits end with an immersion experience using virtual reality headsets from Laval Agglomération’s Micro-Folie.

Conference on “Invasive alien species” organized by Mayenne Nature Environnement (MNE)

Noëlie Beuvart and Guillaume Chouard, nature coordinators for the environmental association MNE, offer a lecture on the issue of invasive alien species.

The exhibition Aube d’un Éden is a unique opportunity to rediscover Henri Rousseau in a new light, while raising public awareness of environmental issues and the place of nature in our imagination.

All MANAS programming