https://www.moma.org/collection/works/80172

The Sleeping Gypsy was painted by self-taught painter Henri Rousseau in 1897. This oil painting was created in Paris, France and is now on view on the fifth floor of The Museum of Modern Art. The dimensions of this piece of artwork are 51″ x 6’7″.

What I immediately noticed about the painting were the vibrant colors on the Gypsy’s clothing and in the scenery. The contrast between these colors and the dark figures made the figures pop out and come to life. The lion therefore looked real, far off in the distance, but ready to approach if I spoke too loud. Most emphasized I believe was the lion’s eye. It was large and bright and looked like it was about to turn on me. In addition, the lion’s large mane seemed textured and soft, making it look like it was actually blowing in the night’s wind. Lastly, what eventually grabbed my attention most was the way the lion looked like it was tiptoeing past the Gypsy, making sure not to wake her from her peaceful sleep. The unplayed musical instrument helped create this sense of silence and calmness.

Although my initial reaction to this painting was fear for the Gypsy, I began to feel calmer as I realized the lion was not going to attack. I came to respect the lion for his ability to restrain himself and allow the Gypsy to stay sleeping. I believe that this realistic and moving representation of the lion combined with the bursts of color caused me to turn away from the painting with a sense of serenity and a smile on my face.