Henri Rousseau

Henri Rousseau, often termed "Le Douanier" due to his job as a customs officer, was a self-taught French painter celebrated for his naive or primitive style. Largely unappreciated during his lifetime, Rousseau is now acclaimed for his vibrant, dreamlike jungle scenes, despite never having left France. These fantastical landscapes, filled with exotic animals and dense vegetation, like in "The Dream" and "The Sleeping Gypsy," are characterised by their meticulous detail, flatness, and surreal ambiance. Rousseau's unique perspective and style influenced subsequent avant-garde artists, solidifying his place in art history.