Beauty and the Beast Henri Julien Felix Rousseau (1844-1910)

In this painting titled Beauty and the Beast by Henri Rousseau, a woman, presumably Beauty, lies on her back in a verdant, overgrown clearing. She is nude and her skin is depicted in a pale, luminous tone. Her eyes are closed, and her posture suggests either surrender or slumber. Her hair is dark and frames her face. In her left hand, she holds a small hand mirror, its reflection catching the light.

Draped over her is a large, dark, animalistic figure, the Beast. It appears to be a hybrid creature with the body of a quadruped, possibly a boar or a large, powerful dog, covered in coarse, black fur. Its forelegs are entangled with the womans body, and its head is lowered towards hers, its snout touching her cheek. The Beast has sharp teeth bared in a snarl or perhaps a more gentle gesture of intimacy, and its eyes are wide and unsettling. Its long tail is coiled at its hindquarters.

The setting is a jungle-like environment, with dense foliage and tall grasses surrounding the figures. Large, dark leaves hang from unseen branches above, creating a sense of enclosure and mystery. The overall color palette is muted, dominated by greens, browns, and the pale tones of the womans skin, setting a somewhat somber and dreamlike mood. The painting exhibits Rousseaus characteristic naive or primitive style, with bold outlines and flat areas of color.

The subtext of the painting can be interpreted in several ways, drawing from the classic fairy tale and potential symbolic layers:

• The Nature of Beauty and the Beast: The most direct interpretation relates to the fairy tale, exploring themes of outward appearance versus inner character. The Beast, despite its frightening exterior, is in a position of vulnerability and potentially affection towards Beauty. Beauty, for her part, is depicted in a state of openness and trust, even while seemingly asleep or overcome.
• Sensuality and Desire: The intimate and somewhat erotic pose of the figures, particularly the Beasts entanglement with Beautys body and its proximity to her face and chest, suggests themes of primal desire and sensuality. The nudity of Beauty further emphasizes this aspect.
• The Gaze and Self-Perception: The mirror held by Beauty is a significant symbol. It can represent self-awareness, vanity, or the moment of recognition where Beauty begins to see beyond the Beasts outward form. However, with her eyes closed, the mirrors role is ambiguous; it could also symbolize a passive or internalized perception of beauty.
• Innocence and the Primal: The lush, wild setting could symbolize a state of nature, where primal instincts and untamed forces (represented by the Beast) interact with human innocence and vulnerability (represented by Beauty).
• The Unconscious and Dreams: The dreamlike quality of the painting, with its stylized figures and fantastical setting, might suggest an interpretation rooted in the unconscious mind, where raw emotions and archetypal figures like Beauty and the Beast play out.

Rousseaus rendition of Beauty and the Beast is not a literal narrative illustration but rather a symbolic portrayal that invites contemplation on themes of love, desire, perception, and the hidden nature of beings.