Art is the Solution

The Somnambulist  Source: Wikimedia Commons I’ve never seen anyone sleep walk; however, I imagine it’s quite the sight to behold. The idea of a person who is deeply asleep walking around as if they were awake is rather eerie and disconcerting. It’s no wonder that sleepwalking has been regarded as a mysterious and even supernatural act throughout history. John Everett Millais explores the psychological mystery of sleepwalking in The Somnambulist . The piece depicts a woman in a long, white nightgown walking through the night. Her expression is strangely blank, suggesting that she is in some sort of trance. She carries an extinguished candle in one hand, emphasizing the darkness and peril of the scene. To the left, it’s possible to see the edge of a cliff and dark water; the sleepwalker is only inches away from falling to her death, yet she is completely unaware of her danger. Millais had a flair for the dramatic. His paintings are full of characters facing grim and dangerous situa...