The Repast of the Lion 1902 - 1912

Henri Rousseau made "The Repast of the Lion" at the turn of the century with oil on canvas. Just imagine him, in his studio, conjuring up this jungle scene, layer upon layer. He probably never left Paris, yet he could imagine this vibrant, exotic scene. The cool blues and greens create a dense background, and the lion feels so intimate, hidden among the long grasses, that he’s almost part of the landscape itself. The plants and flowers throughout are so tactile, it’s like he’s trying to touch something beyond what he knows, maybe something ancient and primeval. The more I look, the more I start to think about other visionary painters like him: maybe Hilma af Klint, or even Van Gogh. There's a realness to the touch in the painting that is amazing. Rousseau reminds us that artists are always exchanging ideas, even across time, and that's what makes art so powerful. Each brushstroke is a conversation.