L’Empire du sommeil / The Empire of Sleep

L’Empire du sommeil ( The Empire of Sleep ) is the official catalog for the exhibition at the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris, dedicated to the cultural and artistic representation of sleep in European history. The volume brings together over 200 works, from ancient vessels and medieval manuscripts to pieces by modern and contemporary artists including Bellini, Dürer, Rembrandt, Fuseli, Goya, Delacroix, Ingres, Courbet, Monet, Rodin, Redon, Klinger, Munch, Picasso, and Balthus.

The book explores sleep as both a cultural and philosophical phenomenon. It is presented as a source of happiness, a metaphor for death and eroticism, a space of poetic imagination and psychological tension. Contributors,  including neuroscientists, psychiatrists, sociologists, and art historians, offer a multifaceted analysis that blends scientific insight with artistic interpretation.

Published in collaboration with the Musée Marmottan Monet and In Fine éditions d’art, this catalog is a valuable addition to the collections of those interested in art history, psychology, and visual culture.