French painter known by his nickname "Le Douanier (Customs Officer) Rousseau" refering to the time he spent working for the Paris Customs Office from 1871 to 1893 when he retired to devote himself to his painting. He tried to emulate traditional artists such as Bouguereau but it was the innocence of his own individual style which won him recognition. Perhaps best known for his jungle scenes ("Tropical Storm with a Tiger") in which he illustrates his remarkable ability to portray on a large scale his imaginative powers and attention to detail.