How did Henri Rousseau paint the plants in his jungle scenes?

Henri Rousseau created his lush jungle scenes by meticulously rendering exotic plant life with great attention to detail. Although he never traveled outside of France, he likely based the diverse leaf forms in his paintings on plants he studied at the botanical garden in Paris.1

His technique involved painting each leaf separately while maintaining a focus on the overall composition. This approach resulted in branches of leaves that formed almost abstract patterns. By layering these individual elements, he achieved a sense of dense, vegetal growth that served as the backdrop for his dramatic, often mysterious narratives.1