Fuseli and the Modern Woman: Fashion, Fantasy, Fetishism

Henry Fuseli was an 18th-century Swiss artist known for his controversial paintings and drawings of supernatural creatures, muscle-bound heroes, and damsels in distress. He had an obsessive preoccupation with the figure of the modern woman, which he pursued almost exclusively in his drawings. The Courtauld Gallery's exhibition "Henry Fuseli: Drawings of Women" presents over fifty of these studies, offering an unprecedented opportunity to see one of the finest Romantic-period draughtsmen at his most innovative and exciting. The exhibition explores how Fuselis drawings of women speak to concerns about gender and sexuality that are still relevant today.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 168 pages
Publication date: 13 October 2022
Publisher: Paul Holberton Publishing Ltd

This captivating catalogue accompanies the inaugural exhibition dedicated to a remarkable collection of drawings by the Anglo-Swiss artist Henry Fuseli ({PHONE}), a prominent figure in eighteenth-century Europe known for his unique, innovative, and contentious artistic style. Renowned for his iconic painting "The Nightmare," Fuseli cultivated a reputation for eccentricity, creating vividly stylized images of supernatural creatures, muscular heroes, and damsels in distress. While some viewers were captivated by his genius, others dismissed him as a charlatan or even mentally unstable.

What Fuselis contemporaries might have considered even more eccentric was his private obsession with the modern woman, which he pursued almost exclusively in his drawings. Contrary to expectations, Fuseli's figures deviated from idealized bodies with classical statuesque proportions, instead featuring bodies shaped by stiff bodices, waistbands, puff ed sleeves, and pointed shoes. Their heads were adorned with intricate coiffures of the most bizarre and complicated sort. Often based on his wife Sophia Rawlins, the women who populate Fuseli's graphic work exude a bold and aggressive attitude, either directly engaging the viewer or completely disregarding their presence. They are frequently depicted alone, occupying the center of the page, or gathered together to form unsettling narratives that evoke mysterious, vaguely menacing, or overtly transgressive themes. However, it is the unwavering dominance of women in these narratives that stands out.

Among the many intriguing questions raised by these works is the extent to which Sophia Rawlins actively contributed to shaping her appearance for her own pleasure and the benefit of her husband. Fuseli's depictions of women in his drawings offer a unique insight into the fashion and beauty trends of the time, reflecting the societal norms and cultural attitudes of the eighteenth century. Through his meticulous attention to detail and his imaginative portrayal of the female form, Fuseli created a visual language that continues to captivate and inspire artists and scholars alike.

This captivating catalogue serves as a testament to the artistic brilliance and the enigmatic personality of Henry Fuseli, a visionary artist who left an indelible mark on the history of art. By exploring his fascination with the modern woman and his unique visual style, this exhibition invites viewers to delve into the world of Fuseli and discover the enduring power of his visionary creations.

Dimension: 260 x 215 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913645298