The Sleepers (Le Sommeil)

Painted by Gustave Courbet in 1866, this work shows two women asleep together, their bodies intertwined on rumpled sheets. Courbet was a leader of the Realist movement, which means he painted life as he saw it rather than dressing things up with idealized beauty or mythological excuses. You can see that honesty here in the relaxed poses, the soft natural skin tones, and the everyday details like the vase of flowers and the small table holding a glass decanter and goblet.

The painting was commissioned by a wealthy collector named Khalil Bey, a former Ottoman diplomat known for his taste in bold, sensual art. Because of its frank subject matter, the piece could not be shown publicly for many years and was only displayed privately. When it finally appeared in a Paris gallery window in 1872, it caused quite a stir and even drew the attention of the police. Today it hangs in the Petit Palais in Paris, admired both for its technical skill and for Courbet's willingness to challenge the rules of his time.