Henri Rousseau's Painting Dedicated to Footballers Henri Rousseau, "The Customs Officer," painted jungles, tigers, dreams. But there is one painting that stands out from the exoticism. "Footballers" (1908) is a canvas where four players in striped uniforms are frozen in unnatural poses on a green field. Behind them are trees, two pale-blue balloons, and urban rooftops. This is one of the most mysterious and naive works of the artist. Why did Rousseau, never interested in sports, suddenly draw football? And what did he want to say? Let's look closely. History of Creation In 1908, Rousseau was 64 years old. He had already written "The Sleeping Gypsy" and "Tropical Storm," but had not yet gained widespread recognition. The painting "Footballers" was not commissioned. The artist simply saw boys kicking a ball on the streets of Paris and was inspired. He had never played football, knew the rules. Perhaps what attracted him was the dynamics: running figures, a ball, tension. He painted the picture for the Salon des Independants, where he exhibited annually. Critics, as usual, laughed: "clumsy, childlike proportions, no perspective." But Picasso and Apollinaire, Rousseau's friends, were delighted. Description of the Painting On the foreground are four footballers in uniform: two in red-and-white striped jerseys, two in dark-blue. A ball resembling a ripe orange lies at the feet of one of them. The figures are drawn flatly, without volume, their legs unnaturally thin, the poses strange: one is preparing to strike, another is running, stretching out his hands, the third is frozen in a half-squat. The hands of the footballers resemble branches, their faces masks. In the background are tall trees resembling decorations and two dirigibles. To the left and right are buildings resembling grandstands, but empty. The sky is pale blue. Everything resembles a dream, not a real match. Why the Painting Looks Strange Rousseau did not know the rules of perspective. The figure ... Read more