The Sleeping Gypsy
Henri Rousseau · 1897
Why it's great
A woman sleeps in the desert under a full moon while a lion sniffs at her and walks away. Rousseau painted it with flat, dreamlike shapes and strange calm. He had no formal training, so his art has a childlike purity. It's famous as a masterpiece of 'naive' art and a forerunner of surrealism.
👀 Look closer!
The full moon is shining. What do you think the lion is going to do?
Where to see it
📍 Museum of Modern ArtNew York City, United States
Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Henri Rousseau was born in Laval, France, and worked as a tax-and-toll collector, earning the nickname 'Le Douanier' (the customs officer). He taught himself to paint and began exhibiting in his forties. His jungle scenes, painted from visits to the Paris botanical garden, were mocked at first but later admired by Picasso and others. He died in Paris in 1910.
