An unprecedented dive into sleep... That's what the Musée Marmottan Monet is offering you with an exhibition entitled L'Empire du Sommeil, running from October 9, 2025 to March 1, 2026. Curated by Laura Bossi, neurologist and science historian, and Sylvie Carlier, director of collections at the museum, the exhibition explores the many dimensions of sleep through the arts and sciences. It also examines the symbolic and allegorical role of sleep, between secular and sacred iconography, while highlighting its impact on art, influenced by scientific and psychoanalytical research.
Covering mainly the 19th and 20th centuries, this exhibition places works created between 1800 and 1920 in perspective with significant creations from Antiquity, the Middle Ages, Modern Times and the contemporary era. Recurring themes such as "the sleep of the innocent", "the dream of biblical tales" and "the ambivalence between rest and eternal rest" are addressed, all of them motifs in the collective imagination. Theexhibition also deals with specific subjects such as mesmerism, sleep disorders and their representation in medical iconography, highlighting their appropriation by various artists.
A special section of theexhibition is devoted to the bedroom, an intimate and symbolic space. Through the works presented, visitors can discover the habits and customs associated with this environment, as well as the philosophical and sociological dimensions associated with it. An in-depth analysis of how sleep has shaped and inspired art through the ages. See you at the Musée Marmottan Monet!
Dates and Opening Time
From October 9, 2025 to March 1, 2026
Location
Musée Marmottan-Monet
2, rue Louis Boilly
75116 Paris 16
Prices
Tarif réduit: €9
Plein Tarif: €14
Official website
www.marmottan.fr
More information
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm (last admission 5 pm). Nocturne Thursdays until 9 pm (last admission 8 pm).
