The artwork titled “Sleeping Beauty,” created by Edward Burne-Jones in 1871, is a notable piece within the Symbolism movement and classified under the genre of literary painting.
The artwork depicts a serene scene where the subject, a woman, is lying in a peaceful and undisturbed slumber. Her body is gracefully reclined, draped in soft, flowing robes that enhance the sense of calm and stillness. The setting is a carefully detailed enclosure resembling a bed or a resting place adorned with delicate, natural elements such as intertwined branches and flowers. The use of nature motifs and the gentle, muted color palette contribute to the dreamlike, ethereal quality of the scene, aligning with the Symbolist interest in conveying deeper meanings and emotional states through art.
