Henri Rousseau 1844 - 1910

[ottenki_serogo]

Henri Rousseau, self-taught artist, was destined to play in the history of art a special role. His work attracted the interest of professionals, so that opened a seam in the artistic culture that has always existed, but had not previously attracted attention - the so-called naive art, or art primitives.

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The son of a provincial tinman, Russo served in the 1871-1893 years in the tax office in Paris, because of what was later nicknamed "The officer". He began to draw and paint, apparently, about 1880, when he was already quite mature man. Educated, are not familiar with any art competence nor the history of art, he probably would have remained forever in obscurity, if not created in 1884 by the Society of Independent Artists, which waived the jury and opened the doors to its show to the public. Above pictures of Rousseau, appearing in showrooms independent, laughed, laughed till you drop, wondering at the arrogance of the simpleton, who has decided to compete with well-trained professionals.

Rousseau himself did not seem to notice in his paintings of deviations from the academic norm. He admired Bouguereau and Jerome, the then idols official Salon, and sincerely believing that continues this tradition, called himself a "national treasure of France." He was right, even though the story he ordered another, and perhaps a more important role than the one on which he aspired.
By that time in European art has been a trend of primitivism - focus on folk art, on the canonical form of primitive civilizations. People in the literary and artistic environment teased simplicity "customs", played the farce of its official recognition, but they stood out jokes and genuine interest in free self-taught school regulations, reshivshemusya to start from scratch with a clean slate.
Art Rousseau, in fact, deserves the closest attention. It is distinguished by unusual "primitive" forms of energy, her strong-willed, confident organization. Apparently, the avant-garde artists captivated and unintended semantic shifts, the differences visible and implicit. After all, trying to reproduce the genres and forms of academic art, Rousseau unwittingly created a parody of them.

His muse, inspiring the poet "(1909, Moscow, State Museum of Fine Arts. Pushkin) on a plan - an allegorical portrait of Apollinaire and his mistress Marie Laurence. They are represented in certain groves of paradise, the poet - with its traditional attributes: a scroll and a quill pen, Muza - in the "antique" robes and crowned with a blessing gesture, a raised hand. In the intention to give a special significance Muse artist greatly increased the volume of her figure, but the "heavenly inspiration" made like the plump of the common people. Poses of these stocky figure volatile and uncertain gestures, as if they are not forced upon the inherent role. Diligent imitator salon art, Rousseau describes the rhetorical turns "high style" language of street vernacular, and his tongue-tie gives some kind of truth about the dilapidated allegorical genre.

Repertoire Rousseau was very diverse. He painted portraits, family celebrations and official ceremonies, of Paris and its suburbs, still lifes, landscapes with figures, military parades and battles. But his favorite subject became exotic landscapes - dense tropical forest with walking on them by predators and the Aborigines. In this regard, born rumors that in his youth Rousseau participated in the Mexican expedition of the French army. But, apparently, he never left the borders of France and in his pictures just passed all the familiar children's dreams of overseas countries.
Rousseau's amazing ability to fill the space vegetable weave, leaving somewhere in the depths of some cavity refuge for hiding animals. His tigers and jaguars with burning eyes, fabulous Ptah, cunning monkeys, reptiles, cunning, dark-skinned snake charmers do not differ at once, and sometimes barely visible over the huge thick curtains of leaves and stems. As if the artist was trained in wildlife watching its tricks - hiding in bunkers, lurking in the dark, sly peep, to scare the sudden appearance.

As to the paintings "The Dream" (1910, New York, Museum of Modern Art) Rousseau fiddling mocking question: how beautiful on the red settee was among the jungle? He replied that he brought a sleeping surrounded by their dreams. In fact, we see something else - a woman if she had just woke up and sat up in surprise stares at fantastic thickets. Tigers, shaken by her sudden appearance, round-eyed stare, frightened leaning on his hind legs, and curious firebird started, scoring colorful wings. Hiding in the shadow of dark-skinned inhabitant of the tropics is playing a pipe, or begging creep away the snake, then I suddenly found myself performing a serenade is beautiful.
In flowery landscape "primitive" art broke motif, borrowed from the repertoire of the official Salons - naked on the bed, and artistic intuition Rousseau responded to the surprise of the meeting subject commotion in the virgin forest. "The picture radiates beauty, it is undeniable - wrote Apollinaire. - Ask the artists, they are unanimous in their admiration. " Presumably, this admiration mingled with envy, and shred. After all, while on a combination of disparate artistic programs could venture only a naive self-taught.
Masters of the avant-garde, amused over the "customs officials, were surprised by his unusual moves and unconsciously learned, getting lessons unblinkered and therefore capable of opening the original perception. Example Rousseau has stimulated interest in the element of amateur art, which now has fuel for primitivism in professional art.

[Veronic]

Just a balm to the heart, how I love this artist. Had looked and looked. thanks!

[Sandro]

"... 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»

[LCR]

Yesterday found in a forthcoming auction wonderful picture of Rousseau. At what - forget, fool, but I remember that appreciated almost nothing, something like 20000 (do not know whether the pound, the euro? "- Is still awfully cheap) - but that lot number 55, recorded: p

[vyadem]

LCR,
Lot No: 55 *
Henri Rousseau, Le Douanier (French, 1844-1910)
'Jeune fille à la Volière'
signed 'H Rousseau' (lower right)
pastel on paper heightened with white
9 3 /4 x 9 1/8in (24.7 x 23.2cm)

Estimate: £ 10,000 - 15,000, € 11,000 - 17,000
PROVENANCE:
Collection of Ernst Tappenbeck, Paris
Thence by descent

EXHIBITED:
New York, 1963
Tokyo, 1966
LITERATURE:
D. Vallier, Henri Rousseau: Supplément au catalogue raisonné, (Paris, 1970), no F. 13, illus

completely forgot link give ...
there are other interesting lots ... those are my favorite Kokoschka and Schiele Schiele work ... although "not the same, but estimate already very impressive!

Indeed small estimate ... 24 at Christie's will also be sold to Rousseau, so there
oil on canvas
15 7 /8 x 20 ½ in. (40.3 x 52 cm.)
Painted in 1906
£ 70,000 - £ 100,000
($ 115.150 - $ 164.500)

[Кирилл Сызранский]

Originally Posted by vyadem

Really small estimate

Perhaps because of the technology.

pastel on paper heightened with white

[vyadem]

Cyril Syzransky, equipment certainly played a role in the price ... but not in the same time (unlike Christie's 10 times )!!.. may put a start to break up .. let's see

[Vladimir]

Originally Posted by Cyril Syzransky

Message from vyadem View Post
Indeed small estimate
Perhaps because of the technology.

Pay attention to size. 9 3 /4 x 9 1/8in (24.7 x 23.2cm). It's just a tiny figure. Bed does not change.

[vyadem]

Vladimir, I once saw "a tiny drawing" one of the employees end of 19 century Faberge. 3x4 cm, but the content and technique just shine!
Rousseau rather "chamber" work.

[Кирилл Сызранский]

Originally Posted by Vladimir

It's just a tiny picture.

Figure

Originally Posted by Vladimir

24.7 x 23.2cm

too difficult to call exactly-"tiny".