By Masha Rumyantseva
‘The Dream’, Henri Matisse’s last completed work, is often considered to be one of his most influential. Currently on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the painting was created in 1910 using oil on canvas.
As one of over 25 Rousseau paintings with a jungle theme, the painting displays the artists signature, almost surreal, style. It also features a portrait of a woman who is believed to be Rousseau’s mistress, Yadwigha. She lies naked on a couch, surrounded by the lush green foliage and flowers, which were heavily inspired by the Paris Museum of Natural History’s ‘Jardin des Plantes’. The woman reaches for a lion, one of the many exotic animals in the piece, while a snake charmer plays the flute, hidden in the dark background. To accompany the painting, the artist wrote a poem to explain the meaning that he had tried to convey.
Inscription pour La Rêve
Yadwigha dans un beau rêve S'étant endormie doucement Entendait les sons d'une musette Dont jouait un charmeur bien pensant. Pendant que la lune reflète Sur les fleuves [or fleurs], les arbres verdoyants, Les fauves serpents prêtent l'oreille Aux airs gais de l'instrument.
The poem translates to:
Yadwigha in a beautiful dream Having fallen gently to sleep Heard the sounds of a reed instrument Played by a well-intentioned [snake] charmer. As the moon reflected On the rivers [or flowers], the verdant trees, The wild snakes lend an ear To the joyous tunes of the instrument.
One of the possible inspirations for this piece could be Titan’s ‘Venus of Urbino’, painted in 1538, which also depicts a reclining nude. The combination of a traditional subject with the more modern surreal style of Rousseau creates an interesting dynamic that was uncommon at the time.
Henri Rousseau was a self-taught artist who only started painting seriously in his forties, and committed to his art full-time at age 49. During his lifetime he was heavily criticized for his ‘primitive’ and ‘childlike’ style, but is now widely recognized for his contributions to the post-Impressionism movement.
Most of Rousseau’s famous works depict jungle scenes, even though he never so much as left France, the country he was born in. Instead, Rousseau turned to illustrations in children’s books, botanical gardens and taxidermies of wild animals. Soldiers from the French expedition to Mexico told stories of their adventures to him, leaving the artist fascinated.
‘The Dream’ is a fascinating example of Rousseau’s artistic talent and vision. His unique composition and naïve style still influences modern art today, cementing him as an icon of surrealism.