The Dream (La Rêve) 1876 - 1918

Henri Courselles-Dumont made this print, ‘The Dream’, in the late 19th century. It depicts a woman asleep on a chaise lounge, dreaming of a Buddha floating in the sky. Note the chessboard beneath the chaise. Chess, often referred to as the ‘game of kings’, symbolizes strategy and intellect, but here it's inactive, superseded by the realm of dreams. The Buddha contrasts sharply with the Western setting. Typically, the Buddha embodies enlightenment, peace, and detachment from earthly concerns. His appearance in this dream suggests a longing for spiritual insight. Consider how dreamscapes often blend familiar and foreign elements. The floating Buddha, in this context, evokes a desire for transcendence, an escape from the constraints of rationality. This juxtaposition of the chess game, a symbol of strategy, with the Buddha underscores the tension between logical thought and intuitive wisdom. The cyclical nature of symbols is evident here, as the Buddha motif resurfaces in this Western dream, transformed yet retaining its essence of spiritual awakening.