Spectacular Maneuvers: Explorations of Sexual Deviancy and Early Film in Henri de Toulouse-lautrec’s Au cirque Series
Open Access
Author:
Datchuk, Kimberly
Graduate Program:
Art History
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
September 23, 2014
Committee Members:
Nancy Elizabeth Locke, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor Sarah K Rich, Committee Member Charlotte Marie Houghton, Committee Member Willa Zahava Silverman, Committee Member
Keywords:
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec Sadism Masochism Feminism Masculinity Animality Film Fin de Siècle Circus Au cirque
Abstract:
My analysis of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec examines previously overlooked aspects of his work. It begins with a consideration of Lautrec’s depiction of sexual deviancy in the Au cirque series and its relationship to the rise of the feminist movement in France. After exploring how his drawings engaged in the changing experiences and desires of women in the fin de siècle, I investigate how Lautrec represents the divergent pressures of masculinity in the series. I then turn to the role animality plays in the Au cirque drawings. Finally, I evaluate the relationship between Lautrec’s portrayal of movement in his work and the scientific and technological innovations made toward recording movement. I incorporate elements of Lautrec’s experiences and those of his family and friends, and build my analysis on a strong theoretical framework. My analysis looks at both the contemporary discourses on sexual deviancy, masculinity, animality, and the recording of movement, as well as current research on these subjects. The biographical details of Lautrec’s life anchor the theoretical aspects of my argument to the time period and demonstrate the extent to which the issues occupied the artist’s mind. Ultimately, I examine how Lautrec’s work participated in a cultural moment that grappled with changing gender roles and rapidly developing technology.
