"... One day in 1908, Picasso stopped before the shop into a showcase Pere Soulier, there may be a large portrait of a woman. "It's not expensive - it says a trader - I'll give it to you for 5 francs, you can re-use the canvas. The painting by Picasso sees the desire for simplification and grotesque. He asked about the name of the author. Pere Soulier suggests that the artist is not very well known ...
... Henri Rousseau was then 64 years. He participated in the war 1870goda. He tells about his participation in the Mexican campaign, which explains the exoticism of his paintings.
In this small, slightly round-shouldered old man sort of split personality. .. he lives modestly, and when the portraits of neighbors or friends, then measure their pre-folding ruler. Customers appreciate his paintings were no more than pictures, and pay for them, mostly food. Up to 40 years, Russo served in the meridian, and then retired to devote all his time painting. Rousseau knows that he is a great artist ...
... He said one of his friends: "I draw not I draw someone else, holding my hand." He is so vividly felt his presence in this other, that when he wrote the hunt for the tiger, it covers the horror ...
... Touching, in its pride and naivete, he once said of Picasso: "We are with you - the greatest artists of the era, you - in the Egyptian style, and I - in the modern style" ...
... Man Rousseau was very sweet and gentle, was married twice, buried two wives and, although very happy in the marriage was not, after all now wanted only one thing: to marry again. "At my age can still be love and not be ridiculous - he confessed Fernanda (then wife of Picasso). - Just at my age more than anything and need to someone warmed your heart, you hope that you will not die alone ... ". He has a fiancee, and he is in love with her, but Leone did not want to get married without the consent of the father and the father who has turned 83, finds that the groom is too old for her, although most Leonie turned 59 years old. Fun soon turns into a drama. Rejected Rousseau falls into despair, disappointed in life and in his art, and dies just as he feared - alone. (1910) ... "
A. Vallanten "Pablo Picasso»
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