Sleeping Children 1947

Here we have Max Kahn’s lithograph "Sleeping Children." The image presents two children entwined in sleep, a universal symbol of innocence and vulnerability. The motif of slumbering figures harkens back to ancient Roman sarcophagi, where the sleep of Endymion, symbolizing eternal rest, was a popular theme. In Renaissance paintings, we often see sleeping putti, innocent cherubs embodying a state of carefree bliss. But consider, too, how sleep is akin to death, as reflected in numerous artistic renderings of the "Death and the Maiden" theme, where sleep is but a soft echo of our mortality. The intimate embrace of the children evokes a primal yearning for safety and protection. It speaks to the subconscious desire to return to a state of symbiotic unity, echoing the peace of the womb. The image transcends its immediate subject, inviting viewers to contemplate the cyclical nature of life, and the enduring power of symbols that resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings across history.