Intimate Interiors: Sex, Politics, and Material Culture in the Eighteenth-Century Bedroom and Boudoir

In the 18th century, interiors became more specific due to a desire for intimacy, privacy, informality, and sociability. This volume explores how intimacy was a fundamental goal in the planning of private quarters, revealing the political nature of private spaces and the contradictions and complexities of these highly performative "private" interiors.

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 20 April 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In the eighteenth century, a longing for intimacy in domestic spaces emerged, driven by a growing sense of individualistic expression, a desire to conceal labor or enslavement, and a yearning for solace and comfort. This longing led to the transformation of interiors, as they assumed more specific roles in the lives of individuals. By examining the architectural, visual, and material culture of eighteenth-century spaces, Intimate Interiors sheds light on the interconnected concepts of intimacy, privacy, informality, and sociability. Through eleven innovative chapters that explore issues such as gender, politics, travel, exoticism, imperialism, sensorial experiences, identity, interiority, and modernity, the volume demonstrates how intimacy was a fundamental goal in the planning of private quarters. By unveiling the political nature of private spaces, it also highlights the contradictions and complexities of these highly performative "private" interiors. By employing distinct methodological perspectives across various geographical sites, from Turkey to Versailles, Britain to Benin, Intimate Interiors draws untraced connections between Enlightenment Europe, imperial outposts, and major metropolitan centers across the globe.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350277601