MASTERPIECE #3294

/// Jan van Beers painted Henri Rochefort,
a French writer and pol, and much more.
He looks like Charlie Ruggles,
but with coiffure he struggles.
(Struck by lightning bolts summoned by Thor?)

/// He wrote vaudevilles, light comic plays,
which would bring him success and much praise.
Ran a newspaper, too;
and fought duels,(quite a few);
into politics, then Henri strays.

/// Paintings show his wild “upstanding” hair,
but of strife he had more than his share.
For his views was attacked,
and yet, oddly he backed
the wrong side in the Dreyfus Affair.

/// Rochefort wasn’t a right-wing buffoon.
He’d supported the Paris Commune.
Could he have hated Jews?
It should not come as news
that some on the far left ain’t immune.

/// For the Socialist cause he protested.
Had to flee, and, if not, got arrested.
Went to prison at times
for political “crimes,”
and a daring escape manifested.

/// Anna-Catherine, his wife, some might mock.
She hung out with von Sacher-Masoch.
Books reveal between covers
that she took many lovers.
Did his hair look like that from the shock?

/// Told, “Your painting is done,” Henri cheers.
Held this same pose for what seemed like years.
“Celebrate,” he exclaims,
“feasting on both our names.”
They had Rochefort* cheese and some Beers.

* (Alternate spelling of Roquefort.)