Henri Verstijnen was a Dutch artist and philosopher, active in the Art Nouveau movement. Born in Java in the Dutch Indies, he took art lessons in Arnhem. He was initially active in ceramics, but eventually became known as an animal artist. He has lived in Gouda and Maastricht, before settling in The Hague. He became part of the “Haagse Kunstkring” and the painter's collective Pulchri. His many paintings and drawings of flowers, birds and other, mainly exotic, animals were exhibited on many occasions.