Portret van een slapende vrouw c. 1903 - 1904

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet sketched this portrait of a sleeping woman with pencil on paper. The motif of the sleeping figure echoes through art history, from ancient depictions of Endymion lulled into eternal slumber by Selene, to Renaissance portrayals of dreamlike visions. Consider the pose: arms crossed, eyes closed. It evokes a sense of tranquility, but also vulnerability. This echoes in countless images of reclining figures, each carrying the weight of cultural memory. Think of the sleeping Ariadne abandoned on Naxos, a symbol of betrayal and solitude. The act of sleeping, surrendering to the subconscious, has been interpreted as a release from earthly concerns. This image invites us to reflect on the cyclical nature of sleep, dreaming, and the unconscious mind and consider how such simple images transcend time and cultural boundaries.