Henri Rousseau, The Sleeping Gypsy

   This week it is time for a true fantasy, so let us go to the desert of Africa for an image created in 1897 by French artist, Henri Rousseau.  This is a large oil painting measuring 51" x 6'7" and is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City.
   I love Rousseau's work.  Each seems like a total departure from the norms of any day or period, and always brings a smile to my heart.   He is considered a primitive painter because he had no formal training and art was more of an avocation, out of necessity. 
    It is known that Rousseau never traveled to Africa and his knowledge of it's people or lions came from books or the zoo.  Yet here he has created a poetic fantasy of a sleeping gypsy woman in a remote desert.  She is clutching her walking stick and next to her is an Italian mandolin and water jug.  Her costume has been described as Oriental.  So nothing makes sense, other than the obvious - that it is not meant to make sense - this is Rousseau's dream, a lion watching a sleeping woman.   Is he just curious, does he intend to harm her, what are his intentions?  Why is the woman still holding the walking stick?  Is it for her protection?   Are the lion and the gypsy symbolic figures?
   Rousseau's composition is pretty straight forward.  The lion is direct center, with the woman leaning toward the lower right.  The right is further weighted by the large white moon.   This painting balances because of the size of the landscape to the left and the huge sky, which also conveys a remote and lonely feeling.
   This painting can create lots of ideas and thought, so I invite you to take a close look, and enjoy.
Make Art a part of your day, it's a beautiful thing to do.

Comments

  1. charguthJanuary 13, 2020 at 6:56 AM

    I'm amazed that he could make such a compelling composition without any formal training. Heavy horizontal lines are countered with the jug, the striped cloth on the ground, and her arm; the tipped up lion's tail seems to bring us back to the sleeping figure. It's a calm and very quite scene. Reminds me of the Peaceable Kingdom. I'm not a fan, but his work certainly makes me take a deeper look and wonder "what's the story here"?? I can make it up!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Art Expert On LineJanuary 13, 2020 at 8:13 AM

    Yes, you can make up a story for this one! Thanks for commenting.

    ReplyDelete
  3. JudithMarie5January 20, 2020 at 9:13 AM

    I was not always intrigued by Rousseau; however, some appreciation came later in life. The strong graphics draw me in as does the puzzling nature of the narrative. Everyone can certainly make up a personal story. The painting reminds me of fine advertising images...oh, we are SO 20th/21st Century, are we not?

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