Regarded as a self-taught genius, Henri Rousseau was a French post-impressionist painter. He taught himself to paint by copying artworks at art museums and as a result he developed a style which is known as ‘primitive’ or ‘naïve’. As a result of his artworks ‘primitive’ nature, Rousseau was never really accepted by the more traditional art critics, and he became part of the avant-garde movement where his work became highly influential. The inspiration for Rousseau’s artworks tropical forests and landscapes were sourced from travel guides and botanical gardens as he never left France. His nickname was ‘Le Douanier’ because of his job as a customs official.