Where can I see this artwork?

Portrait of Juliette Courbet as a Sleeping Child is displayed at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. The work depicts his younger sister Juliette nestled beside an open book, capturing the innocence of childhood sleep.

Who was Juliette Courbet?

Juliette was Gustave Courbet's younger sister. She appeared in several of his works throughout his career You can see it at Musée d'Orsay.

What medium is this work?

This is a graphite drawing on paper, measuring 35.2 x 45.7 cm, created in 1841 when Courbet was twenty-two. Gustave Courbet created Portrait of Juliette Courbet as a Sleeping Child in 1841, a graphite drawing on paper measuring 35.2 x 45.7 cm.

Where Is Portrait of Juliette Courbet as a Sleeping Child?

Gustave Courbet created the Portrait of Juliette Courbet as a Sleeping Child in 1841, a graphite drawing on paper measuring 35.2 x 45.7 cm. The work depicts his younger sister Juliette nestled beside an open book, capturing the innocence of childhood sleep. At just twenty-two, Courbet was already showing the observational skills that would define his Realist approach.

Rather than grand narratives or heroic gestures, Courbet focused on quiet intimacy. A sleeping child beside a book speaks to themes of innocence, tranquility, and the pursuit of knowledge. This early drawing shows his interest in depicting everyday life and emotional depth, diverging from the historical and mythological themes that dominated academic art.

Courbet painted his sister Juliette throughout his career. Her face appears in several works as he developed his radical approach to representing ordinary subjects with dignity and honesty. The drawing hangs at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, an early glimpse of the artist who would champion portraiture of real people over idealized figures.