The Sleepers
- Artist
- Gustave Courbet
- Date
- 1866
- Style
- Realism
- Genre
- Nude painting (nu)
- Location
- Petit Palais
"The Sleepers" (also known as "The Two Friends" and "Indolence and Lust") is an erotic oil painting on canvas created by French artist Gustave Courbet in 1866. This bold depiction of a lesbian couple forms part of a wider genre of nude painting (nu), emblematic of Courbet's courage in portraying sensual subject matter. Courbet's approach to painting is rooted in Realism, a style notable for its commitment to depicting life as it truly appears, rather than idealized or romanticized versions. Thus, "The Sleepers" stands as not just an erotic work, but also a profound exploration of reality and intimacy.
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