Sleep

Gustave Courbet (1819-1877): Sleep (1866) this work shows Courbet's interest in an erotic Realism that became prevalent in his later work… Raw eroticism is delivered without aid of cupids or mythological justification of any kind, making this work vulgar to those with the prevailing taste of the day. Such unsanctified nudes provoked much discussion about flaws in Courbet's character and art, but the artist reveled in the added attention and increased reputation as a confrontational artist…