The painting I picked was “The Sleeping Gypsy” by Henri Rousseau. Henry Rousseau is most celebrated as being one of the best naive artists. He was given the nickname la Dounaier, which came from a job he held from 1871 to 1893, where he worked with the Paris Customs Office. Prior to this career, he served in the army. During this time, painting was something that he did as a hobby, and in 1893, he accepted early retirement, which allowed him to focus on painting full time. This in turn allowed him to better his from, and create a name for himself in the world of art.
Henri describes the painting as “A wandering Negress, a mandolin player, lies with her jar beside her (a vase with drinking water), overcome by fatigue in a deep sleep. A lion chances to pass by, picks up her scent yet does not devour her”. This work reflects modernism because of the flattened shapes and perspectives, the freedom of color and style, the subordination of realistic description to imagination and invention.
What drew me to this piece was the calm lion under the moon which is the brightest part on the painting. The women in the picture is a traveler therefore she doesn’t know anyone or have any friends and family which means she is lonely. The way I interpret the painting is that the lion represent all the dangers that can come your way as a result of being lonely. The water base represents health and the instrument represent material happiness but none of that means anything if you’re alone. To me the sent the lion picks up is loneliness and unhappiness.
I have many questions about this painting like why did he choose a lion to be in a dessert setting. Why did he only include 6 stars and do they had a significance. Where did he get inspired to do this painting?
Work cited
“Museum of Modern Art | MoMA.” The Museum of Modern Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2016.
“http://www.henrirousseau.net/”Henri Rousseau, and his paintings. Web. 03 May 2016.
I passed by this painting in the museum and it had caught my eye. I didn’t choose it, but the reason why I was drawn to it is similar to yours. The flattened shapes and colors really stood out.
I was really drawn by this picture too but did not choose to write about it as I was not sure of its meaning towards modernism. I agree with you, I can see it in the way it was painted now. I also find your interpretation of the lion very interesting. I thought it was odd but this picture seemed quite peaceful to me. From the calm lion, to the woman sleeping, to the beautiful clear night sky; everything makes the setting look tranquil which is interesting.
Ricardo,
I have loved this painting since I was a little girl. I remember being attracted to it on my earliest visits to MoMA. I think you are right that Rousseau’s flat colors are a feature of Modernism, but I also think that this painting is an example of Surrealism in its dreamlike quality. You ask why a lion would be in the desert? I think part of the answer is that this is not reality, but a dream or a product of the unconscious. There is something almost magical here that allows the woman to sleep safely, even with the lion standing over her! Nice choice!