Ridiculed at his time by critics, he is today recognized as a self-taught genius in the Primitive manner. He found inspiration in lush jungles and exotic scenes, despite never leaving France. Rousseau's art, marked by vibrant colors and detailed flora and fauna, reflected his fascination with the exotic and the fantastical. His dreamlike landscapes, such as "The Sleeping Gypsy," blended a naive, childlike style with a profound imagination, earning him acclaim as a precursor to modern surrealism.