Flowers of Poetry by Henri Rousseau, c. 1890.

Henri Rousseau, also known as Le Douanier Rousseau, was a French post-impressionist painter who lived from 1844 to 1910. He is best known for his vibrant and imaginative jungle scenes, which he painted despite never having visited the tropics. Rousseau’s works often feature lush vegetation, exotic animals, and dreamlike landscapes, created with a distinctive style characterized by flattened perspective and bold colors. Despite facing criticism from contemporary art critics, Rousseau’s unique vision eventually earned him recognition and admiration from later generations of artists