Sleeping lady with a devil Konstantin Andreevich Somov (1869-1939)

The drawing presents a nocturnal scene contained within an oval frame, immediately establishing a sense of intimacy and enclosure. Here we see a reclining female figure, presumably asleep, dominating the lower portion of the composition. Her posture is relaxed, almost languid, with her head turned slightly away from the viewer, suggesting vulnerability and unconsciousness. The artist has rendered her features minimally, emphasizing the curves of her body beneath the bedding.
Above her, positioned in a dynamic pose, stands a humanoid figure possessing distinctly demonic characteristics. Its limbs are elongated and angular, its posture tense and almost frantic. It appears to be reaching down towards the sleeping woman, its hands outstretched as if attempting to interact with or influence her. The creature’s face is obscured by shadow, adding to its unsettling presence.
The artist employs a stark black-and-white palette, which contributes to the dreamlike quality of the scene and heightens the contrast between the passive female figure and the active, almost predatory, male form. The use of line work is expressive; the lines defining the woman are soft and flowing, while those delineating the demonic figure are sharp and agitated. This difference in linework reinforces the dichotomy between sleep and wakefulness, innocence and temptation.
The subtexts within this drawing are complex and open to interpretation. It could be read as a depiction of internal struggles – the battle between good and evil occurring within the subconscious mind during sleep. The sleeping woman might represent repressed desires or vulnerabilities, while the demonic figure embodies anxieties or temptations that threaten her peace. Alternatively, the image may explore themes of seduction and corruption, with the creature symbolizing an external force attempting to infiltrate a state of innocence.
The oval frame itself is significant; it suggests a contained world, perhaps representing the boundaries of dreams or the confines of the psyche. The placement of signatures in the lower corners further anchors the scene within a personal narrative, hinting at a deeply subjective and symbolic exploration of human experience.