Who painted Sleeper (Un dormeur)?

Sleeper (Un dormeur) was painted by Alphonse Legros in 1874.

Where can I see Sleeper (Un dormeur)?

Sleeper (Un dormeur) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Sleeper (Un dormeur)?

Sleeper (Un dormeur) is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Sleeper (Un dormeur)

Alphonse Legros , 1874

Sleeper (Un dormeur) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Alphonse Legros. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The composition is compact, with the figure’s head supported by an arm and the body folded into a compact, almost sculptural form.

Alphonse Legros produced the etching *Sleeper (Un dormeur)* in 1874. Executed as a single‑plate print, the work captures a reclining figure rendered in loose, gestural lines. The composition is compact, with the figure’s head supported by an arm and the body folded into a compact, almost sculptural form. The image’s stark, linear quality reflects Legros’s interest in the immediacy of drawing within the print medium.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts an individual at rest, curled and seemingly withdrawn. The figure’s posture—head cradled by an arm, legs drawn up—conveys a quiet, introspective moment rather than a narrative scene. The lack of detailed background focuses attention on the bodily gesture, inviting contemplation of fatigue, repose, or perhaps a fleeting, private instant captured by the artist’s hand.

Technique & Style

Legros employed traditional intaglio etching, incising the design into a metal plate with a needle before applying ink and wiping the surface, leaving ink only in the scratched lines. This method yields crisp, expressive strokes that resemble rapid sketches, preserving the vigor of the original drawing. The print’s texture arises from the interplay of dense, dark lines and open spaces, emphasizing form through line rather than tonal shading.

History & Provenance

Born in France, Legros moved to London in 1863, where he became a central figure in the British revival of etching. *Sleeper* dates from the early phase of his British career, illustrating his commitment to the medium during a period when he was also active as a painter, sculptor, and medalist. The work exemplifies his role in re‑establishing etching as a respected art form in late‑19th‑century England.