Sleeping Child 1961

Will Barnet created this painting with oil on canvas, presenting us with a timeless tableau of maternal care. Note the serene stillness of the sleeping child. Sleep, a universal symbol of vulnerability, has been depicted across millennia, from ancient Egyptian sarcophagi to Renaissance depictions of Cupid and Psyche. The child's posture, cradled and protected, echoes the pietà motif, suggesting not only physical rest but also emotional security. The mother figure, depicted as attentive and alert, seems to embody the archetypal guardian. Her gesture of adjusting her hair is reminiscent of classical depictions of Venus, subtly merging themes of beauty, watchfulness and motherhood. The image resonates deeply, tapping into our collective memory of nurturing and protection, reminding us that even in modernity, the oldest and most profound human connections endure.