A French painter often referred to as “Le Douanier,” Henri Rousseau was a self-taught artist whose dreamlike jungle scenes and imaginative compositions made him a pioneer of modern art. Working with a naive, deliberate style that defied academic convention, he created fantastical worlds filled with lush vegetation, wild animals, and mysterious figures. Though initially dismissed by critics, Rousseau’s bold vision and originality later inspired generations of artists, including Picasso and the Surrealists, who admired the poetic power of his art.