Henry Darger (1892-1973) was an American writer and artist, now recognized as one of the most significant figures in outsider art. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Darger led a reclusive life, working as a hospital custodian and living in a one-room apartment, where he devoted himself to creating a fantastical world through his writings and artworks. It was not until after his death that his landlord discovered Darger’s vast and complex body of work, including a 15,145-page illustrated manuscript titled «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,» along with several hundred drawings and watercolor paintings. Did you know? Darger’s art is characterized by its intricate, imaginative landscapes populated by children, often the Vivian Girls, who are caught in epic battles between good and evil. His work blends innocence with horror, depicting idyllic scenes alongside darker narratives of conflict and persecution. Despite having no formal artistic training, Darger’s compositions are remarkably detailed and vivid, utilizing a unique mix of collage, tracing, and drawing techniques. His use of mixed media, including watercolor, pencil, and carbon tracing, lends a distinctive, ethereal quality to his work, which is often both enchanting and unsettling. The images Midjourney creates with this style are mesmerizing and unsettling. They are interesting to look at and sometimes very unexpected in the way our usual subjects are interpreted. We absolutely love it! The Midlibrary score is 9/9!