What you are looking at
On a moonlit desert, a woman in a striped robe sleeps beside a mandolin and a water jug while a lion sniffs at her.
Why it is famous
Rousseau was self-taught and worked as a toll collector, and many people laughed at his paintings during his life. Later artists admired their dreamlike strangeness, and this one is a key forerunner of Surrealism.
How big is The Sleeping Gypsy?
The Sleeping Gypsy measures 129.5 × 200.7 cm (51.0 × 79.0 in), without its frame. Its surface is about 6 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
Compare it with other paintings
Where to see it
It is at MoMA in New York.
Museums move and lend paintings. Check the museum's website before you travel to see one work. See all famous paintings in New York.
Also at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Les Demoiselles d'AvignonPablo Picasso, 1907 New York
The Persistence of MemorySalvador Dalí, 1931 New York
Christina's WorldAndrew Wyeth, 1948 New YorkFrequently asked questions
Who painted The Sleeping Gypsy?
Henri Rousseau painted The Sleeping Gypsy in 1897.
Where is The Sleeping Gypsy?
The Sleeping Gypsy is in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, United States.
How big is The Sleeping Gypsy?
129.5 × 200.7 cm (51.0 × 79.0 in). Its surface is about 6 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
What is The Sleeping Gypsy made with?
Oil on canvas.
Sources: Wikidata Q1219263; Wikipedia, "The Sleeping Gypsy". Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.