Body Image in French Art and Visual Culture (18th and 19th Centuries)

The goal of this installation is to consider the role of different artists and mediums (drawing, sculpture, print) in producing the modern understanding of the body. Spanning the period from rococo to post-impressionism, the installation addresses the issues of artistic instruction, the formation of gender and sexual identity and ethnic/racial stereotypes, the representation of history and modern life, the political and social critique, and the subjective vision. The 20 works on view include drawings by Degas and Seurat; prints by Gauguin, Manet, and Toulouse-Lautrec; and a bronze sculpture by Rodin.

This installation complements a course taught by Ewa Lajer-Burcharth, the William Dorr Boardman Professor of Fine Arts. The University Teaching Gallery serves faculty and students affiliated with Harvard’s Department of History of Art and Architecture. Semester-long installations are mounted in conjunction with undergraduate and graduate courses, supporting instruction in the critical analysis of art.

The installation is made possible in part by funding from the Gurel Student Exhibition Fund and the José Soriano Fund.