He did find work at St. Joseph's Hospital, and for fifty years, he supported himself through menial employment. Darger's art, by those precedents, fits well as 'Outsider' art, and it does so in its execution as well, although in content, it is distinctly Henry Darger. Much of Darger's art is meant as illustration to his hidden, internal life, The Realms , and although there are a number of isolated fantasy drawings, they too augment his introvert musings. It seems dubious that Darger produced his art with any other viewership in mind, although he did begin to transcribe them on typewriter. The Realms is very much his own self-created world.
Expressive impulse presses outward and toward fellow creatures.
It is this which distinguishes Hieronymous Bosch and William Blake in art, J.R.R.Tolkien or even H.P.Lovecraft in literature, from Henry Darger, and not just expertise. Darger's expertise, in art and writing, is what might be expected, and underscores his self-preoccupation with The Realms , rather than with visual artistry or literary acts. Although a poor draughtsman, Darger filled not only standard drawing pads with pictures, but at times expanded to joined sheets 3 to 4 feet high and reaching 10 to 12 feet long. Economy of material forced him to use both sides of a sheet. There are multiple volume Science Fictions for which an author was so caught up in devising his own cosmos, outfitted down to the most minute detail, that he forgot to have any living going on in his creation.