The Invisible Flaneuse?: Gender, Public Space and Visual Culture in Nineteenth Century Paris

by Aruna d'Souza (Editor), Tom McDonough (Editor)

This collection of essays revisits gender and urban modernity in nineteenth-century Paris in the wake of changes to the fabric of the city and social life. In rethinking the figure of the flâneur, the contributors apply the most current thinking in literature and urban studies to an examination of visual culture of the period, including painting, caricature, illustrated magazines, and posters. Using a variety of approaches, the collection re-examines the long-held belief that life in Paris was divided according to strict gender norms, with men free to roam in public space while women were restricted to the privacy of the domestic sphere.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, History, Urban Planning

224 pages, Hardcover

First published September 19, 2006

Reviews

[Kiely · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite essay was "Dusting the Surface: The Bourgeoisie, the Veil, and Haussmann's Paris." An engaging, critical look at a topic that doesn't nearly get discussed enough: how women fit into the newly renovated, Haussmannized Paris.