Frauenakt 

Károly Lotz painted this female nude, with oil on canvas, sometime in the 19th century. Here we find a sleeping nude, a motif that echoes through art history, from ancient Roman sculptures of sleeping Ariadne to Renaissance depictions of Venus. The sleeping figure is more than mere representation; it is a potent symbol, tapping into primal themes of vulnerability, dreams, and the subconscious. Recall Endymion, eternally asleep, visited by Selene, goddess of the moon. This motif resurfaces repeatedly, each time imbued with new layers of meaning, yet always retaining that core of deep, dreamlike introspection. The pose—limbs relaxed, face serene—speaks to a universal desire for peace. The gentle curve of her body is reminiscent of Botticelli's Venus, an embodiment of beauty and repose. There is something deeply comforting, almost therapeutic, in contemplating this timeless image, proof of our emotional connection with our cultural past.