Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Le Douanier Rousseau - musee d’Orsay

In times of great difficulty sometimes art can offer a respite.
Monday I visited a preview of the Rousseau exhibit at musee d'Orsay (March 22-July 17)
I can't say I was Rousseau's biggest fan before this exhibit.
Still, his imagined jungle 🌴 scenes are enchanting.
Considering he spent most of his life as a toll collector, never left Paris, relied mostly on illustrated books, his visits to le Jardin des Plantes and dreams for inspiration.
Edward Hick's Peaceable Kingdom is in the show, painted in 1826, so maybe Rousseau was aware?
Other artists were mad for Rousseau's naive paintings: Leger, Kandinsky, Gauguin may have influenced him. Picasso owned several portraits.
He copied Rousseau's frontal, spare portraits of children.
Robert Delaunay's mother commissioned the huge tropical 🌴 Eve painting after her trip to India.
His Odalisque in paradise ends the show with a splash.
I'm imaginging going 'jungle' 🌴 in my studio after visiting the Orsay gift shop. Bear is imaging going to the Jardim Botânico in Rio...
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23 comments:

  1. Sketchbook Wandering11:04 AM

    Left you 2 comments on the previous post...they didn't publish?! Won't repeat all I wrote in case you'll eventually receive them...En bref, THANKS for sharing Salon du livre, esp. the kids' books!!! (LOVE!!! Oh, that pop up!) Yes, art is a respite, a saviour, a spark...My favorite above is of course Bear in his jungle...and now thanks for sharing some Parisian art...Amuse-toi bien!

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  2. Sketchbook Wandering11:15 AM

    Comment on previous now published...I found the problem...BTW, yes, I suffer with papers all over the place too.... I'm just about to reopen my blog for a new chapter instead of a whole new blog...Brilliant, non? Best, R.

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  3. La Table De Nana11:22 AM

    Primitive/folk art..illustration like..nice to see..different..
    love Bear in the jungle..
    The most touching photos I have seen re the recent Quelle Tristesse tragedy..was your Eiffel tower lit up in les couleurs de Bruxelles..and a black and white illustration of Titin et Milou shedding tears.

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  4. Nikon1:45 PM

    Wow, stunning, Carol!
    Gorgeous.

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  5. Parisbreakfasts2:46 PM

    THANKS Paul!!

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  6. Vivian Swift4:19 PM

    Oh, to be in the same room as all those magnificent Rousseau tableaux!

    I agree with Monique/La Table De Nana: it was poetic to see the Eiffel Tower lit up in the black,gold, and red of Belgium. Such loving and creative responses proves that civilization will always be stronger than violence, and will prevail over the most primitive actions of men.

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  7. Miranda11:11 PM

    Bear is de trop!!!
    Love seeing him get into the act.

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  8. Anabelle11:45 PM

    I wonder if going 'jungle' in your studio has the same mental health benefits as a walk in the park?
    Anyway very pretty. Go for it.

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  9. Cleo from Jersey9:19 AM

    Have always been aware of Rousseau, but never knew he was a toll taker and didn't travel to all the places he painted. So informative...and I love your "Bear"!

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    Replies
    1. Parisbreakfasts9:48 AM

      He never took an art lesson and used it as PR to boot to maintain his 'naiveté' in he art world.

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  10. Susan9:47 AM

    Beautiful!!

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    1. Parisbreakfasts10:42 AM

      It did in fact turn out to be a beautiful show Susan.
      The matching forest green walls didn't hurt either...

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  11. Judith10:43 AM

    "In times of great difficulty sometimes art can offer a respite." So true, and I have been planning to visit a local one this weekend. Just for a lift.
    Thank you!

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  12. joanherlinger1:18 PM

    Interesting to learn he did most of his research in the Jardin Des Plantes. Those museums and greenhouses are very inspiring.

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  13. Yves Fey2:52 PM

    One of my favorite painters. I love the jungle paintings, and the War painting is one of the most chilling ever.

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  14. Kirrabelle7:34 PM

    Thank for the Rousseau exhibition tour. You are right about art offering respite in difficult times. This week I was watching a TED talk on music education where someone explained that this century humans will face a spiritual crisis and only art or religion will help that.....very interesting thought. Love the painting of Bear!

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  15. Betsey3:39 AM

    Thank you Carol, peace be with you & bear

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  16. Lynn S4:37 AM

    Hey Bear...welcome to the jungle.

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  17. Bonnie L4:40 AM

    Yes, Carol, we all do need art in these difficult times.

    My favorite art piece in this blog is Bear Imagining Rio.

    He is pure delight.

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  18. Jill @ Teatime in Paris8:09 AM

    I'm looking forward to seeing this expo in April - loved your tour and the last painting is hilarious with bear!

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  19. Patricia8:40 AM

    Loved this! I'd love to see a children's book of Bear in Rio --- or really of Bear anywhere! (A series perhaps?)

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  20. muenzeeins11:51 AM

    how beautiful, would love to see this exhibit, though not sure we can make it to Paris while it runs... do you happen to know the beautiful book by Sophie Daxhelet "Sortie de joueurs" inspired by the Douanier Rousseau paintings? it is wonderful....

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  21. Tina M.9:17 AM

    Love this post and thank you for the arts history. Just last week, images of Rousseau's painting crossed my mind - but I couldn't remember his name. Glad for this information. Thank You.

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