Sleeper Awake 2003

Bo Bartlett's painting shows a figure lying on a beach, with a ladder propped up behind. The color palette is muted earth tones, with a cool, grey sky. I imagine that when Bartlett painted this, he was thinking about mortality, and those moments of quiet reflection when we are closest to the truth of our existence. The woman in the painting seems to be in a state of reverie. She looks peaceful, but there is also a sense of melancholy about her. The ladder could represent her dreams, but is it there to climb or is it just leaning there as a symbol of something unattained? The paint is applied in smooth, blended layers, creating a sense of depth and luminosity. And is that a tear on the sand or a shell? The painting reminds me of other artists who have explored the theme of sleep and dreaming, such as Edward Hopper and Andrew Wyeth. As with any good painting, the artwork allows us to have a conversation about the experience of being alive. It captures a moment of pause, inviting us to contemplate the mysteries of life, death, and what comes after.