HENRI ROUSSEAU

P. Eluard called Rousseau a great artist, who "forced to live the clouds and the leaves on the trees and at the same time knew how to write a dream. " "Fortunately for us - added Eluard - Rousseau was convinced that he must show what he sees. In all, he looked with love, and the image they will always admire.

Henri Julien Felix Rousseau was born May 21, 1844 in Laval, the main city of the Department of Mayenne. Rousseau wrote in his autobiography about himself in third person: "He was born in 1844 in Laval, and because of modest means parents had to deal with the wrong profession to which he was attracted to the tendency of art. "

Henry was seven years old when their house was sold at auction to pay debts of his father. The family left Laval, but Henry left to live at the school, where he worked at the time. The boy was not a child prodigy, but the singing and arithmetic deserved awards.

Being exempt from military duty, as a student of the Lyceum, he nevertheless joined the army as a volunteer. Rousseau enlisted in 1864 in the 52 th Infantry Regiment. According to the record card of the military ministry, Rousseau served four and a half years: he was discharged July 15, 1868.

In 1869, Russo was married in Paris on Clemence Buatar. Seven of the nine children of Rousseau died in infancy. His wife died in 1888.

At first, Henry served as a bailiff, but a few months later he managed to find a place on the city route, hence its nickname - "The officer". The IRS Rousseau trust only the most simple assignments like guard duty at the various outposts of defenses. Perhaps he had already started to draw about 1870. The earliest paintings, which have reached us date back to 1880.

Photo — «Henri Rousseau»

In 1885 Rousseau exhibited in the freedom of artistic salon on the Champs Elysees copies of old masters′ paintings, made in the Louvre.

In his autobiography, the artist writes:

"Only since 1885, after numerous disappointments, he was able to devote himself to his art, he studied himself, know nature and the advice of Jerome and Clement.

His first works - "Italian Dance" and "Sunset" were exhibited at the Salon des Champs Elysees. "

In the 1886 film "Carnival Evening" is already present future features of individual style of Rousseau: the alternation of the plans, exchange of figures in a landscape and careful study of the elements of composition.

The picture caused a mockery of the public, but the real experts, such as Pissarro, enjoy it. When one of his friends led him to the paintings of Rousseau, thinking to amuse, Pissarro surprised his companion that was delighted with the art, precision Valero, rich tones. Then he began to heap praise on creativity customs to their friends.

Very soon, Rousseau became a kind of celebrity, or rather famous eccentric. Few could understand the novelty and originality of his work.

"We are still standing in the ears peals of laughter sounded from Rousseau′s paintings," - wrote the critic G. Kokio.

In the Salon of Independent he first exhibited in 1886. Henceforth Rousseau annually, except 1899 and 1900, to exhibit their work in this salon.

His naive immediate landscapes, views of Paris and its suburbs, genre scenes, portraits of distinguished conventionality common solutions and literal accuracy of details, flatness forms, bright and colorful flair.

In 1893 Rousseau retired. Now he could fully devote himself to art.

Photo — «Henri Rousseau»

In 1895 appeared one of the few positive responses to the work of Rousseau. Critic "Mercure de France" L. Roy wrote about the film "War, or horsewoman contention" on display at the "independent" in 1894: "Mr. Rousseau shared the fate of many innovators. It comes only from its capacity, he has a rare quality in these times - a perfect identity. It is directed towards the new art. Despite some shortcomings, his work is very interesting and demonstrates his multi talents. For example, expressively used black. Perfectly perceived horizontally constructed composition. Rushing full speed into a huge black horse nearly takes up the entire canvas, she - a phenomenon quite extraordinary. That she keeps the entire center of the picture. On it sits the fury of war with a drawn sword in his right hand and a burning torch in the other. Land covered with dead bodies: the thick and thin, naked and clothed. All dead or dying. The horror reached its climax in those who still breathing. Nature torn apart. All that′s left of it - is a tree, devoid of leaves, one - a gray, the other - black, but attracted the smell of blood crow flying down to taste the flesh of victims of war. The land is densely covered with terrible ruins on it there is not green, no grass. Painting beautifully conveys the atmosphere of tremendous distress and irreparable loss; nothing and will never live here. Burning away the fire to finish the cruelty caused by weapons. You have to be unfair to say that the person who can inspire us to such thoughts, not an artist. "

Never again Rousseau did not write such large canvases. In 1897, there are pictures of "Myself, portrait, landscape" and the famous "Sleeping Gypsy.

Photo — «Henri Rousseau»

" The artist was so pleased with last work, even offered to buy her the mayor of Laval: "I′ll let you have a picture of the amount from 2000 to 1800 francs, because it would have been happy if it stayed in the city Laval memory of one of his sons. " The proposal, of course, rejected. In 1946, this fabric has arrived in the Louvre and was estimated at 315,000 new francs.

Is it true that Rousseau was such a simpleton as he is often represented? The case narrated by A. C. Perruchoud, makes this question. We know how caustic wit had Degas. But once he himself - who would have thought! - Swallowed the bait. They met at a show, and Degas exclaimed: "Oh, it′s you, Mr. Russo! I know your art, and, as said in Sérusier, "paused, searching for a little word stronger, never occurred to him. But Rousseau suddenly asked: "And you, Monsieur Degas, where exposed are you?" This is so stunned by Degas, that the conversation was not continued. "

September 2, 1899 Rousseau combined legal marriage with Josephine Nuri. Poverty forced him and his wife open a small shop of stationery goods. The artist is constantly exhibited in her something of his canvases in the hope of finding buyers. He also became the Inspector-distributor of the newspaper "Petit Parisien".

After a two-year break in 1901 he exhibited at the Salon of Independent painting "unpleasant surprise", which won the admiration Renoir. "It is curious how it alienates people - once said Renoir Vollaru - when they discover the picturesque quality of the work of the painter. And most of them probably infuriates one artist - The customs Rousseau! This is a scene from prehistoric times, and in the heart - a hunter, dressed in a suit as a "Beautiful gardener, and in addition with a gun .

Photo — «Henri Rousseau»

. . But tell me, can not we just enjoy the combinations of colors on the canvas? Is it really necessary to understand the plot? And what a wonderful tone on the canvas Rousseau! If you remember, there in front of the hunter naked woman? . . I′m sure would have liked even the Ingres! "

In 1903, Josephine died Nouri, and Rousseau was widowed a second time. In 1891 the artist wrote his first exotic fabric "Storm in the jungle. "

Fantasia painter born in the Paris workshop unusual world: "Hunting the Tiger" and "Hungry Lion" (both - 1904-1905), "Zaklinatelnitsa snakes" (1907), "Monkeys and oranges" (1908), " Tropics "(1910)," Hedwig′s Dream "(1910). The last picture was one of the most famous in the works of Rousseau: the artist has with a bright color convey the magical atmosphere of the world of dreams. To depict foliage, it took him more than 50 shades of green paint.

"Zaklinatelnitsa snakes" made a strong impression that boosted the popularity of the artist. "Now the number of customers increased, - writes V. Ude - and it happened that he was working on three or four canvases simultaneously. He taketh from morning till night. It seems that everything went perfectly. " The officer met with Maurice Raynal, Picasso, Max Jacob, Vlaminck, Guillaume Apollinaire, Andre Salmon, Max Weber.

In 1907, Rousseau wrote a large canvas "The representatives of foreign powers come to swear allegiance to the republic as a sign of peace. " "When I wrote the unity of the peoples, in which representatives of foreign powers oath to the Republic as a sign of peace, I could not go with the exhibition, so many were willing to shake my hand and congratulate.

Photo — «Henri Rousseau»

Why all this? Yes, because at that time held the Hague Conference, and I even had not thought of. But it happened. And how many letters I received from all over the world, from Belgium, Germany, Russia, everywhere "- the artist wrote.

In 1908 Rousseau exhibited at the "independent" four of the canvas, including the painting "The players in football. " This picture is evidence that in the last years of his life the artist turned to the problems of motion.

Rousseau was not only the talent of the painter. In 1886 he was awarded an honorary diploma and the Literary Academy of Music of France, for he had composed a waltz, which the author played in the Beethoven Hall.

In 1889, Rousseau wrote a farce in three acts and ten scenes "tour of the World exhibition, and in 1899, creates a drama in 5 acts and 19 scenes of" Revenge of the Russian orphans.

At the end of August 1910 the artist hurt his leg, he did not attach any importance, yet the wound fester, and gangrene. Rousseau died 2 September 1910.

On the stone sculptor Brancusi and artist Ortiz de Zarate engraved epitaph, which Apollinaire first written in pencil:

Dear Rousseau, you hear us?

We welcome you,

Delaunay, his wife,

Mr. Kevalam and myself.

Miss our luggage without a fee to the gates of heaven.

We will bring you brushes, paints, canvases,

To your sacred leisure, throw the light of truth,

You spent painting

And so, as once I, you wrote a star face.

Rousseau had no disciples, but he was the progenitor of a new direction in art. His followers became known as "primitivist. "