Who painted Sleep (Le sommeil)?

Sleep (Le sommeil) was painted by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1896.

Where can I see Sleep (Le sommeil)?

Sleep (Le sommeil) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Sleep (Le sommeil)?

Sleep (Le sommeil) is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Sleep (Le sommeil)?

Museum-quality prints of Sleep (Le sommeil) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Sleep (Le sommeil)

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec , 1896

Sleep (Le sommeil) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1896, this red lithograph on laid paper presents a solitary figure lying on its side.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower left in plate 2 artist's monograms

About this work

Overview

Created in 1896, this red lithograph on laid paper presents a solitary figure lying on its side. The composition is rendered in a single warm, reddish‑brown hue, emphasizing the softness of the pose. The work belongs to Henri de Toulouse‑Lautrec’s series of rapid studies that capture fleeting moments of repose.

Subject & Meaning

The image depicts a nude reclined on a side, with arms folded beneath the head, suggesting a private, unguarded instant. By focusing on a solitary, vulnerable body, the piece aligns with Lautrec’s broader interest in portraying individuals on the margins of Parisian society and the intimate spaces they inhabit.

Technique & Style

Executed through lithography, the artist drew directly onto a stone surface, allowing the fluid, sketch‑like lines to transfer onto paper. The loose, hurried strokes and the uniform reddish tone give the print a smudged, atmospheric quality, characteristic of Lautrec’s quick studies that aim to seize movement and stillness alike.

History & Provenance

Henri de Toulouse‑Lautrec, a French painter and printmaker active in late‑19th‑century Paris, produced this work among numerous studies intended for personal reference rather than exhibition. The lithograph remains a testament to his prolific print output during a period when he regularly explored theatrical and everyday scenes of the city.

Sleep (Le sommeil), Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

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Artist & collection

Artist

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Comte Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Montfa (24 November 1864 – 9 September 1901), known as Toulouse-Lautrec (French: ), was a French painter, printmaker, draughtsman, caricaturist, and illustrator.