Восточный сон * Jean-Jules-Antoine Lecomte Du Nouy (1842-1923)

The composition presents a nocturnal scene unfolding on what appears to be a rooftop terrace overlooking a densely populated urban landscape. The palette is dominated by deep blues and purples, creating a sense of mystery and dreamlike atmosphere. A full moon, partially obscured by swirling clouds, casts an ethereal glow across the scene, its light diffused into luminous streaks that seem to emanate from the celestial body itself.
A solitary figure, draped in rich green robes with a turban adorning his head, occupies the foreground. He reclines on a patterned cushion, seemingly lost in slumber or deep contemplation. A hookah pipe rests near him, suggesting leisure and perhaps indulgence. His posture is relaxed, almost languid, contributing to the overall feeling of tranquility and repose.
Standing before him, bathed in the moons luminescence, is a spectral female figure. Her form is indistinct, rendered as a shimmering apparition with flowing white garments. She appears to be floating or ascending, her presence suggesting a supernatural encounter or a vision from another realm. The contrast between her ethereal quality and the solidity of the man’s physical form underscores a separation – perhaps between reality and dream, consciousness and unconsciousness, or the tangible world and the spiritual plane.
The cityscape in the background is rendered with less detail than the foreground elements, yet it provides context for the scene. Buildings cluster together under the night sky, hinting at a vibrant, bustling life beyond the terrace. The inclusion of potted plants on the rooftop suggests an attempt to bring nature into this urban setting, creating a small oasis of calm amidst the surrounding activity.
The painting evokes themes of longing, desire, and the allure of the unknown. The dreamlike quality invites contemplation about the boundaries between reality and imagination, and the possibility of encountering something beyond our everyday experience. The subtext hints at a yearning for connection or transcendence, embodied by the spectral figure who seems to offer an escape from the mundane world below.