Isabella

The high number of female protagonists demonstrates that modern writers were aware of how, through their otherness, women could personify an alternative to the contemporary rationalist visions. For that reason, a woman was more than once depicted as a destructive force (e.g., Marten's prostitute Ysotta). However, female characters, while allegorically commenting on the present day, were also - paradoxically - depicted as men’s creations or inventions (e.g., Villiers' The Future Eve). This ambiguity was explored by some female artists in their works as well: Rachilde created Mr. Venus: a being of dual gender – a woman dressed in a man's clothes, treating a man as a woman and turning him into a work of art.

Subject: Others
Author: Gide, André
Title: Isabella
Date: 1919
Place of publication: Prague
Publisher: Kamilla Neumannová
Origin: Adolf Hoffmeister’s library
Licence: Free license

Other exhibits from the chapter

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to personalize content and ads, provide social media features and analyze our traffic. We also share information about the use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. They may use the data together with other information they collect about you while using their services.

Deny all
Show details
Allow all