Slapende jongeman 1789 - 1859

Pieter de Goeje's delicate drawing captures a sleeping young man in what looks like a midday repose. The image centers on the universal symbol of sleep, a motif rich in historical and cultural meaning. Consider the image of Endymion, eternally asleep, or even the slumber of the Buddha under the Bodhi tree. This iconography transcends cultures, appearing throughout various times and places. Sleep, often equated with dreams, has been depicted as a state of vulnerability, a moment of truth. Here, the hat gently tilted over the young man's face, and the posture he adopts, speak to an emotional dimension deeply embedded in this quiet scene. The image might remind us of the cyclical nature of life, the human need for rest, and the continuous return to such motifs throughout art history. It is a powerful force engaging viewers at a subconscious level.