The Sleeping Venus 1944

"The Sleeping Venus," painted in 1944 by Belgian surrealist Paul Delvaux, depicts a surreal and dreamlike scene. A nude woman reclines on a chaise lounge in a classical setting, surrounded by strange figures, including a skeleton, a woman in a red hat, and a figure reaching towards the crescent moon in the night sky. The classical architecture and the presence of the skeleton hint at the theme of mortality, while the other figures, and the woman's peaceful sleep, create a sense of mystery and intrigue. This painting, now at the Tate Modern in London, is a signature example of Delvaux's surreal and dreamlike style.