Created from high-quality wood, milled with simple clean lines and presented with a satin finish. Includes an off-white mount that will not discolour or fade with age. - Simple, elegant design - Premium, fine art paper with a gently textured surface - Handmade by specialist picture framers - FSC certified off-white mat / window mount - Delivered ready for hanging

"The Dream" is a captivating and enigmatic work by French painter Henri Rousseau, depicting a surreal jungle scene infused with vibrant, dreamlike qualities. At the center of the painting, a nude woman reclines on a plush green velvet couch, a serene and somewhat enigmatic expression on her face. Her pose is reminiscent of classical reclining nudes, but her placement in the middle of a lush jungle creates a surreal juxtaposition.

Surrounding the woman is a fantastical and meticulously detailed jungle landscape, teeming with an array of exotic flora and fauna. The verdant foliage is rich with oversized leaves and flowers rendered in vivid greens, yellows, and oranges. To the right of the woman, a dark-skinned lioness gazes cooly at her, its eyes filled with curiosity. Behind the lioness, a group of other animals, including monkeys and colorful birds, add to the teeming life of the scene.

To the left of the composition, a mysterious figure of a black musician clad in tribal attire stands beside a lotus flower, playing a flute. His music seems to resonate through the jungle, as suggested by the various animals and the swaying plants that appear to move to an unseen rhythm. This musician adds to the overall dreamy ambiance of the scene.

The background consists of dense jungle vegetation interspersed with towering exotic trees and more animals, all bathed in a primordial, magical light. The sky above transitions smoothly from a deepening twilight to a starry night, further enhancing the ethereal quality of the painting.

Artistic and Historical Context:

"The Dream" is a significant work in Henri Rousseau’s oeuvre and represents the culmination of his lifelong fascination with jungles and exotic landscapes. Rousseau, a self-taught artist who began painting seriously later in life, was often referred to as a "naive" or "primitive" painter due to his unique, childlike style characterized by simplistic forms and vivid colors. Despite his lack of formal training, Rousseau managed to create highly imaginative and detailed compositions that captured the interest of the avant-garde community in Paris.

Rousseau's jungle paintings, of which "The Dream" is the largest and most well-known, were not based on firsthand experience. Instead, they were inspired by illustrations in books, botanical gardens, and the dioramas at the Paris Jardin des Plantes. This imaginative approach allowed Rousseau to create his own fantastical interpretations of tropical environments.

Significance in the Artist’s Career:

Painted in 1910, "The Dream" stands as Rousseau’s last major work before his death the same year. It encapsulates many themes and motifs recurring throughout his jungle scenes, such as the rich interplay between human characters and wild nature, the use of dreamlike imagery, and a sense of tranquility broken by subtle, surreal tensions.

"The Dream" also marks the peak of Rousseau's exploration of the subconscious and the fantastical, elements that would later align his work with the Surrealist movement, despite him not being directly associated with it during his lifetime. The painting's intricate detail, unconventional scale, and the fusion of reality with an opulent dreamscape all make it one of Rousseau's most ambitious and finest works.

Current Location:

The original painting "The Dream" is housed in The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. It is a part of their permanent collection and remains one of the most beloved pieces on display, drawing crowds for its enchanting and enigmatic beauty.

Noteworthy Details:

- Complex Composition: The complexity of "The Dream," with its diverse array of animals, plants, and the human figure, showcases Rousseau's skill in creating detailed and harmonious compositions.
- Symbolism: The figure of the reclining woman and the surreal jungle could be interpreted as a journey into the subconscious mind, a place where dreams and reality intertwine.
- Innovation: Rousseau's innovative approach and unique vision set him apart from his contemporaries and earned him admiration from key figures in the art world, including Pablo Picasso and Guillaume Apollinaire.

"The Dream" remains a testament to Henri Rousseau's imaginative prowess and his ability to transport viewers to an otherworldly realm, fusing reality and fantasy in a seamless, mesmerizing tableau.