Combat of a Tiger and a Buffalo, 1909 by Henri Rousseau

Rousseau's goal was to paint in a realist manner, yet his paintings, as well as drawings and prints, were highly personal in their rendering and imagery. Simplified images of humans, animals, and nature painted in flat, bright colors are representative of Rousseau's individualized approach to artmaking, which may be defined as stylized. In other words, his portrayal of subject matter embodies his imaginative visions that highly differ from everyone else's depiction of similar content. His method or technique of painting was also unique since he applied one layer at a time, creating multiple layers in each artwork. Also, the careful blending of brushstrokes that result in a smooth surface is representative of his individualized approach to painting. Another quality of his technique is the use of controlled brush strokes which make each object in the painting appear outlined.