The Sleeping Gypsy (1897)
Henri Rousseau (1844-1910)
Museum of Modern Art, New York City
If this painting was by anyone else, I'd look for some subtle meaning in the fantastical image. What's with the lion?
Is he curious? Hungry? What's he waiting for? Goodness know,
if you saw AR fast asleep on a beautiful moonlit night,
wouldn't you take a nibble?
But who understands Henri? Born in France, at age eight his family moved -- without him! At 19, he pilfered money and went to jail. His army service was lackluster and he worked the
next 22 years in a toll booth. Both his wives died,
as did eight of his nine children.
But Henri was happy. He claimed to inspired by his adventures in Mexico, but the truth is he never left France. Critics ridiculed him, but Henri lived serenely in his own world. Picasso saw one of Henri's paintings being sold as a canvas to be painted over,
liked his naive' style and befriended him.
So, Henri did win a few fans, but never found success. At age 66, a cut on his leg became infected, he died and was buried a pauper.
There is some conflict among experts whether the sleeping gypsy is a man or a woman. If it was anyone else, I'd wonder too. But, like Henri, I'd perfer to create my own fantasy.
Click to see the real Sleeping Gypsy
Click image above to go to the next page, or choose a thumbnail below
to go directly to that FAMOUS ARt.
to go directly to that FAMOUS ARt.
(I always give permission, but it's still nice to ask first)