Henry darger, a selftaught artist, began working on his magnum opus, an epic work of literature replete with drawings, at the age of 19. Macgregor the late henry darger is a darling of the outsider art world, a dishwasher who created a vast epic tale of naked little girls. Writing in his journal at the time, he began to process this forfeiture of yet another child. Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. His works were discovered shortly before his death and recognized only posthumously by. Very few artists have done more to define and transcend the parameters of outsider art than henry darger. Meanwhile, dargers monographer john macgregor, an expert on the art of the insane, believes darger was a kind of suppressed serial killer. Darger fellow at afam, led us past file cabinets and bubble wrap and freestanding. Art and selected writings is to rescue the loner artist of webster avenue from his most obvious appeal. Henry darger continues to be regarded as an outsider artist.
This section of epidemiology and psychiatric sciences appears in each issue of the journal and is dedicated to all forms of creative production born of an intimate and individual urge, often secretive, unbound from the conventional art system rules. Many thanks to the late nathan lerner for discovering the genius of henry darger and to kiyoko lerner for her generous gift of the contents of henry dargers room to intuit. Now, with this book and michael bonesteels henry darger. Images may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without written permission of kiyoko lerner. In the quarter century since the death of henry dargerand the discov. Contemporary artists and henry darger april 15 through september 21, 2008. He created a wellknown 15,145page, singlespaced fantasy manuscript called the story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the realms of the unreal, of the glandecoangelinian war storm, caused by the child slave rebellion. More than a decade later, darger completed nineteen thousand pages. Michael bonesteels marvelous new book, henry darger. Art and selected writings is an amazing window into the extraordinary world of this outsider artist. Art and selected writings by michael bonesteel rizzoli international publications, 256 pages, 2000.
On october 12, 20, intuit invited three top darger scholars jim elledge, mary trent and michael bonesteel to discuss their perceptions of this enigmatic artist and their different approaches. The art of contemporary selftaught artists is very often a preservationists, conservator or restorers nightmare. The american folk art museum is home to the single largest repository of works by one of the most significant artists of the twentieth century, henry darger 18921973, who created nearly three hundred watercolor and collage paintings to illustrate his epic masterpiece, the story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the realms of the. This exhibition includes twenty paintings, drawings, and tracings by the artist, source materials and dargers personal documents and other ephemera. He has become famous for his posthumously discovered 15,145page, singlespaced fantasy manuscript called the story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the realms of the unreal, of the glandecoangelinian. Art and selected writings a richer, much more readable book that paints an insightful portrait of this mysterious and sometimes fascinating character.
He is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and prolific folk art masters the united states has ever produced. He barely interacted with anyone and seems to have had only one friend, who one biographer believes was. Find more works of this artist at best visual art database. The final work, known by the title the story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the realms of the unreal, of the glandecoangelinnian war storm, caused by the child slave rebellion, totaled over 15,000 singlespaced pages and 300 paintings as a manuscript. Art by any means abduzeedo though fame and prestige was never his aim, henry darger finds himself posthumously a hero to the folk art or outsider art world.
Darger s story is in many respects a version of the life of ern malley, a poet ashbery first read in 1945 and a poet of abiding interest to the socalled new york school. Henry darger is one of the few outsider artists to achieve significant fame in mainstream culture, and is often named as the quintessential american outsider due to the extensive and powerful body of artwork he kept hidden during his reclusive life. Henry darger 18921973 was an elderly tenant of the photographer and designer nathan lerner. He paid meticulous attention to the weather, even recording it every day for ten years in a journal.
Henry darger and his alternate world, realms of the unreal and the henry darger archives at the american folk art museum. Art and selected writings by henry darger goodreads. Henry darger art browse art created by henry darger. The new york edition is held in january at the metropolitan pavilion. Four years later his mother died during childbirth. In the quarter century since the death of henry dargerand the discovery of the astonishing cache of artworks and writings he left behindthis reclusive chicago janitor has become recognized as one of the most important outsider artists of the twentieth century in america. Through short descriptions of the outsider art work of prominent artists and new protagonists often hosted in community mental health services, this section intends to investigate the latest developments of the contemporary art scene, where the. Admittance into important public and private collections paralleled by soaring market values, has made him one of the eminent american selftaught figures of the 20th century. Purchase canvas prints, framed prints, tapestries, posters, greeting cards, and more. Dargers writings image via american folk art museum. Henry darger and the aronburg mystery epidemiology and. Born in 1892, his mother died in childbirth when he was four and the baby sister was given up for adoption. Those who know henry darger know him mostly by his art. In the realms of henry darger american folk art museum.
Michael bonesteel is a chicago writer, the author of henry darger. Selected art and writings, by michael bonesteel rizzoli, 2000, and henry darger. Ses cours portaient sur lart outsider et sur les comic books. Michael bonesteel this book provides the first comprehensive survey of dargers art and writings. Henry dargers visionary ambitions belie the humble circumstances of his reclusive life, spent primarily in a rented room. Among the piles of newspapers, magazines, and hundreds of balls of twine were scrapbooks made from telephone books and an entire lifetime of creative work. Read the artist bio and gain a deeper understanding with mutualarts artist profile. Dargers art has been the subject of the monographs henry darger. Around 1909, he began writing an apocalyptic epic, the story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the realms of the unreal, of the glandecoangelinian war storm, caused by the child slave rebellion. The voluminous works of henry darger were discovered after his death in 1973 by his landlord in a crowded and almost derelict apartment on chicagos northside. Art and selected writings attempts to tell this story. For most of his life, henry darger lived in a oneroom apartment building, attended catholic mass as many as four or five times a day, and worked as a janitor and dishwasher at a hospital. The following listing of henry dargers written material is largely based upon the writings of henry j. Ncptt realms of the unreal and the henry darger archives.
The outsider art fair paris debuted in 20 and takes place each october during fiac, at the atelier richelieu. Its clear that michael bonesteels mission in henry darger. Other shows followed, most of them put on by the phyllis kind gallery, and most of them linking darger with outsider art or art brut, a tradition of madness and creativity that went back to. Posthumous fame grows for artist henry darger sfgate. While it is nicely illustrated with more than 100 of dargers drawings, it pales in comparison with michael bonesteels henry darger. When his father became unable to care for him, henry went first to a boys home and later to the lincoln asylum in downstate illinois. Henry darger, american outsider artist and writer known for his epic fantasy more than 15,000 pages long and his colourful, often disturbing watercolours and collages. In order to escape his unhappy childhood in a mental institution and his reclusive adult life, darger created his own salvation in the form of an intricate fantasy world of drawings and stories revolving around a set of little girl.
I am not going to attempt to prove that he was not, but instead describe darger in his motivations. Little did people around him know that the man in charge of keeping the hospital hallways clean was also the secretive owner of an. Included are reproductions of approximately 114 of dargers collage drawings and fifteen selections from his writings. A catalogue raisonne and readers guide prepared by john macgregor and betsey wells farber for the henry darger research archive of the contemporary center of the american museum of folk art 2001. The centerpiece of what may very well be one of the most remarkable and terrifying stories emerging from the art world of the last century, henry darger was an american selftaught artist who led a solitary and reclusive life as a janitor in a chicago hospital. Art and selected writings and the forthcoming henry dargers story of the. This book provides the first comprehensive survey of dargers art and writings. Learn about the artist and see available works for sale. Henry joseph darger was born in chicago on april 12, 1892. What links here related changes upload file special pages permanent link page. Art and selected writings find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Art and selected writings, his written work is finally gaining similar exposure. Established in 1993, the outsider art fair is the premier fair dedicated to selftaught art, art brut and outsider art and takes place annually in new york and paris. Authorship and identity in henry dargers in the realms of the unreal by.
Henri darger 18921973, chicago, usa the story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the realms of the unreal, of the glandecoangelinnian war storm caused by the child slave rebellion, or 15. Perhaps the most remarkable of these affinities are those in which henry darger s life imitates art. Henry darger 18921973 chicago mid20th century watercolor, pencil, carbon tracing, and collage on pieced paper. Additional information has been provided by michael bonesteel.
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