HUMAN HEADED BLENGINS . . .
Henry Darger (1892–1973)
This intimate installation showcases eight of the nearly three hundred watercolors Henry Darger created to illustrate his 15,000-page manuscript The Story of the Vivian Girls, in what is Known as the Realms of the Unreal, of the Glandeco-Angelinnian War Storm, Caused by the Child Slave Rebellion. Volume 6 of that epic is also on view.
The museum is home to the single largest public repository of works by Henry Darger (1892–1973), one of the most significant artists of the twentieth century. The works on view in “Up Close: Henry Darger” are drawn from this extensive collection.
Museum exhibitions are supported in part by the Leir Charitable Foundations in memory of Henry J. & Erna D. Leir, the Gerard C. Wertkin Exhibition Fund, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.
Human Headed Blengins…
Henry Darger (1892–1972)
Chicago
Mid-20th century
Watercolor, pencil, and carbon tracing on pieced paper
19 x 24 in.
American Folk Art Museum purchase, 2001.16.5
Full title: Human headed Blengins of Calverine Island Catherine Isles. Males. Venomous. Only the angels of heaven can combact these creatures.
© Kiyoko Lerner; photo by James Prinz
Untitled (Blengins Capturing Glandelinian Soldiers)
Henry Darger (1892–1972)
Chicago
Mid-20th century
Watercolor, pencil, carbon tracing, and collage on pieced paper
31 1/2 x 131 in.
American Folk Art Museum, gift of Sam and Betsey Farber, 1999.7.1a
© Kiyoko Lerner; photo by Gavin Ashworth
195 Are Unsuccessfully Attacked
Henry Darger (1892–1972)
Chicago
Mid-20th century
Watercolor, pencil, and carbon tracing on pieced paper
22 x 112 1/2 in.
American Folk Art Museum purchase, 2001.16.1a
Full title: 195 Are unsuccessfully attacked by Glandelinian soldiers unseen in picture, narrowly escape capture by hiding among Balboa bushes.
© Kiyoko Lerner; photo by James Prinz
Picture One. This Scene Here Shows the Murderous Massacre…
Henry Darger (1892–1972)
Chicago
Mid-20th century
Watercolor, pencil, carbon tracing, and collage on pieced paper
31 1/2 x 131 in.
American Folk Art Museum, gift of Sam and Betsey Farber, 1999.7.1b
Full title: Picture One. This scene here shows the murderous massacre still going on before the winged blengins arrived from the sky. They came so quick how however that those fastened to the trees, or board, and those on the run escaped the mudererist rascals or were rescued, and flown to permanent safty and security.
© Kiyoko Lerner; photo by Gavin Ashworth
Untitled (Vivian Girls Watch Approaching Storm in Landscape)
Henry Darger (1892–1972)
Chicago
Mid-20th century
Watercolor, pencil, and carbon tracing on pieced paper
24 x 108 3/4 in.
American Folk Art Museum, anonymous gift in recognition of Sam Farber, 2004.1.1b
© Kiyoko Lerner; photo by James Prinz
At Jennie Turner Children Tied to Tress
Henry Darger (1892–1972)
Chicago
Mid-20th century
Watercolor, pencil, colored pencil, and carbon tracing on pieced paper
18 x 47 1/2 in.
American Folk Art Museum, gift of Carl Lobell and Kate Stettner in honor of Frank Maresca, 2000.25.2b
Full title: At Jennie Turner Children tied to trees in path of forest fires. In spite of exceeding extreme peril, Vivian girls rescued them 1 Vivian Girl Jennie observes with spy glass great massacre of children and brings the attention of her sisters to it.
© Kiyoko Lerner; photo by James Prinz
Museum exhibitions are supported in part by the Leir Charitable Foundations in memory of Henry J. & Erna D. Leir, the Gerard C. Wertkin Exhibition Fund, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.
