Henry Darger created books and paintings that empowered children, while using narrative and storytelling to build a new life and rewrite the injustice of his unhappy childhood.
Darger’s fictional heroines, the Vivian girls, are clever, courageous, and able to effect change on their world. Darger’s own childhood, however, was dismal and left to fate. Reality was bleak to Darger, so he willfully chose to create another world for himself.
Alone in his room, Darger was truly alive. He had animated conversations with himself in various voices, he wrote books where he portrayed himself as a beloved and powerful savior of children, and he created artwork to bring his imaginary friends alive. His works gave him relationships, community, and influence.
In his art, Darger projects his desire for a world where children are safe, and free of oppression by adults. In a paraphrase of the Declaration of Independence, Darger wrote of children's rights "to play, to be happy, and to dream, the right to normal sleep of the night's season, and the right to an education; that we may have an equality of opportunity for developing all that are in us of mind and heart."
His war between children and adults is centered on the moral dilemma of good versus evil, and triumphs Catholicism. Religious iconography and themes abound in Darger’s works, and ultimately expose his inner wrangling with both love and contempt for God, whose role he often challenges and usurps in the tale of the Vivian girls.
Darger’s works are most beautiful when viewed as the expression of a life.Brief Timeline of Darger’s LifeApril 12, 1892 Henry Joseph Darger is born in Chicago.1896 Darger’s mother dies from complications of his sister’s birth, and his sister is put up for adoption. He never meets her.1900 His invalid father is sent to the Little Sisters of the Poor mission, and Darger is sent to the Our Lady of Mercy boys’ home. Here, he acts socially awkward and is ostracized by his peers. He began starting fires and getting into trouble. Darger’s only formal schooling took place during these years at the Skinner School, where he shows an aptitude for learning and an interest in the Civil War.1904 Darger is sent to the Lincoln Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children, where he spends much of his time as a farm worker.1905 Darger receives news that his father has died.1908 At sixteen, Darger runs away from the asylum, and walks all the way back to Chicago. Here, he takes up menial labor at a Catholic hospital. He continues this type of work until his retirement.1917-1918 Brief stint in the army, dismissed for eye trouble1931 Darger moves to his room at 851 Webster St., where he will live for the rest of his life.1963 Forced to retire due to illness.1972 Darger is taken to the Little Sisters of the Poor mission as he can no longer take care of himself.April 13, 1973 Darger dies. His age, as listed on the sidebar, puts this date as the date of his 'birth,' that is to say that it has been 35 years since his artwork became known to others. His art and writing were discovered by his landlord, Nathan Lerner, when he went to clean out Darger's room during his last days.
