Femme assoupie dans les bras de sa servante 

Eugène Grasset created this enchanting image, "Femme assoupie dans les bras de sa servante," amidst the aesthetic movements of the late 19th century. This artwork presents a complex interplay of identities, reflective of its time. The central figure, a woman of privilege, is tenderly supported by her servant, a dynamic that invites us to consider the period's socio-economic structures and interpersonal relationships. The servant's gesture and the woman's languid repose hint at both care and the inherent power imbalances of the era. Grasset was deeply inspired by medieval art, the Arts and Crafts movement, and Japanese aesthetics. The ornamental composition, rich in botanical motifs and patterns, evokes a sense of idyllic beauty, while the presence of the Moorish figure at the upper left corner of the artwork opens a window onto the Orientalist fantasies prevalent in European art and design. It reflects an exoticized view of other cultures, filtered through a Western lens. "Femme assoupie" reminds us of the intimate, often unspoken, connections between women of different social strata, while offering a glimpse into the cultural imaginations that shaped fin-de-siècle Europe.