Alexarae Vega
Art in the 20th century
Jean Boggs
May 5, 2009
Museum Paper #1
In the following essay I am going to compare and contrast two works of art: “The
sleeping gypsy,” by Henri Rousseau, and “I and the Village,” by Marc Chagall.
Henri Rousseau’s, “sleeping gypsy,” expresses modernity through the depiction
of the pondering lion musing over the sleeping woman. Chagall’s painting depicts
modernity through the way he demonstrates his painting, “In the village, peasants and
animals lived side by side, in a mutual dependence here signified by the line from peasant
to cow, connecting their eyes.” i Chagall expresses modernity in the way he tells his
story.
Rousseau’s painting shows open space with the main focus being the center of the
canvas, your drawn to the sleeping gypsy and the lion. Chagall’s painting also
demonstrates open space; there are many areas of the painting that draw attention to a
spectator, the painting has many details that keep you within the image.
“The sleeping gypsy,” was created in 1897. This post impressionist painting
represents its period through the real life subject matter, and the distinctive brush strokes.
The lion’s mane and the gypsy’s hair are very detailed. Art created in 1897 where a
combination of realism with geometric shapes. “I and the Village,” was created in
1911represents its period through the vivid colors and the geometric forms. Paintings
created in 1911 all had similar styles, paintings appeared abstract; they had vibrant
colors, with fantasy incorporated.
The sleeping gypsy depicts a strong woman traveling by herself, sleeping in the
middle of a desert, with no support of anyone around. “I and the Village, “depicts men
and women, the women are shown as workers like the men contributing to society.
Rousseau’s painting style appears abstract with its flattish perspectives, “… its
color crystalline, its lines, surfaces and accents carefully rhymed.”ii Chagall’s painting
style is abstract and cubism with many geometric angles. “I and the village is nostalgic
and magical, a rural fairy tale: objects jumble together, scales shifts abruptly…”iii
The paintings display elements of non-western art. Both Rousseau and Chagall’s
paintings demonstrate post impressionist art. Each artwork display bright colors,
interesting brush strokes, but still being able to show and tell a story clearly.
i
http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?object_id=78984
ii
http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=80172
iii
http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?object_id=78984