Man houdt de hand van een slapende man vast 1895

This print, by Georges Hermann Rene Paul, depicts a man holding the hand of a sleeping man. The lack of a specific date invites us to consider the social conditions that might have shaped its creation. Made in France, Paul's work often subtly reflects the era's anxieties around social class and gender. Notice the stark contrast between the two figures; one standing, alert, and the other lying down, vulnerable. What does it mean for a man to be in the traditionally feminine pose of sleep? What power dynamic is the artist trying to express? Unraveling this image requires us to look at the representation of gender in late 19th-century French art. Further research into the artist’s life and the cultural debates of the time could give us a clearer picture of the social commentary embedded within this intimate scene.