🌈Queer Art History Unit 1 – Early Queer Art: Pre-20th Century Masters

Historical Context and Social Climate

• Queer art emerged in a time of strict social norms and expectations surrounding gender and sexuality
• Artists often had to navigate societal pressures to conform to heteronormative standards while expressing their true identities
• Religious institutions wielded significant influence over art and culture, often condemning non-traditional expressions of gender and sexuality
• Legal and social consequences for openly identifying as queer or creating overtly queer art were severe (imprisonment, ostracization)
• Despite these challenges, queer artists found ways to express themselves and challenge societal norms through their work
  • Developed coded language and symbolism to communicate queer themes and experiences
  • Formed underground networks and communities to support one another and share their art

Defining "Queer" in Pre-20th Century Art

• The term "queer" encompasses a wide range of non-normative gender identities, sexual orientations, and expressions
• In the context of pre-20th century art, "queer" refers to works that challenge or subvert traditional notions of gender and sexuality
• Queer art often depicts same-sex desire, gender non-conformity, and other experiences that deviate from heteronormative expectations
• It is important to note that the term "queer" is a modern one, and artists of this time period may not have used this language to describe themselves or their work
• However, by examining the themes, symbolism, and context of their art, we can identify works that align with contemporary understandings of queerness
• Queer art of this time period often had to be subtle or coded in order to avoid censorship and persecution
  • Artists used metaphor, allegory, and other indirect means to express queer themes and experiences

Pioneering Artists and Their Works

• Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) is known for his homoerotic depictions of the male form in works like the Sistine Chapel ceiling and his sculpture David
• Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was accused of sodomy and his notebooks contain homoerotic imagery and writing
• Caravaggio (1571-1610) painted sensual, homoerotic scenes such as his depiction of Bacchus and his painting of Saint John the Baptist
• Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653) challenged gender norms as a successful female artist and depicted strong, assertive women in her work
• Johann Joachim Winckelmann (1717-1768) was an art historian and archaeologist whose homoerotic writings on Greek art influenced a generation of artists
• Anne Lister (1791-1840) was a British landowner and diarist whose coded journals document her lesbian relationships and gender non-conformity
  • Lister's diaries were written in a secret code that combined the Greek alphabet, zodiac signs, and mathematical symbols
  • The diaries provide a rare firsthand account of queer life in the early 19th century

Symbolism and Coded Imagery

• Queer artists often used symbolism and coded imagery to express their identities and experiences without risking explicit detection
• Flowers were a common motif in queer art, with different blooms representing specific genders, sexualities, or relationships
  • Violets were associated with lesbianism and female same-sex desire
  • Green carnations were a symbol of male homosexuality, popularized by Oscar Wilde
• Classical mythology provided a rich source of queer coded imagery, with stories of same-sex love and gender fluidity
  • The myth of Apollo and Hyacinth was a popular subject, depicting the love between the god and his male lover
  • Hermaphroditus, the two-sexed child of Hermes and Aphrodite, represented gender fluidity and non-binary identity
• Androgynous or gender-ambiguous figures were another way artists could depict queer themes and challenge binary notions of gender
• Private, intimate settings like bedrooms or secluded outdoor spaces could suggest same-sex intimacy or secret queer relationships
• Queer artists also used self-portraiture to explore and express their own identities, often depicting themselves in ways that challenged gender norms

Themes and Subjects in Early Queer Art

• Same-sex desire and intimacy were common themes in early queer art, often depicted through classical mythology, biblical scenes, or private moments between figures
• Gender non-conformity and fluidity were explored through androgynous figures, cross-dressing, and challenges to binary gender roles
• The male nude was a frequent subject, with artists using the male form to express homoerotic desire, beauty, and vulnerability
• Female artists often depicted strong, independent women who challenged traditional gender roles and expectations
• Queer artists also explored themes of identity, self-expression, and the struggle to find acceptance in a hostile society
• Religious and mythological scenes were often used as allegories for queer experiences and desires
  • Saint Sebastian, a common subject in Renaissance art, was often depicted as a sensual, almost erotic figure pierced with arrows
  • The story of David and Jonathan from the Old Testament was interpreted as a depiction of same-sex love and devotion
• Portraits and self-portraits were used to express queer identities and challenge societal norms around gender and sexuality

Techniques and Artistic Styles

• Queer artists employed a range of techniques and styles to express their identities and experiences
• Renaissance artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci used the idealized male nude to express homoerotic desire and beauty
• Baroque artists like Caravaggio used dramatic lighting and sensual, almost erotic depictions of figures to suggest same-sex intimacy and desire
• Mannerist artists like Bronzino and Parmigianino used elongated, androgynous figures and ambiguous gender presentation to challenge binary notions of gender
• Rococo artists like Fragonard and Boucher depicted intimate, private scenes that could suggest same-sex relationships or queer desires
• Neoclassical artists like Jacques-Louis David and Anne-Louis Girodet used classical mythology and idealized forms to express homoerotic themes and same-sex love
• Romantic artists like Théodore Géricault and Eugène Delacroix depicted androgynous, gender-ambiguous figures and challenged traditional gender roles
• Symbolist artists like Gustave Moreau and Aubrey Beardsley used coded imagery, mythological themes, and androgynous figures to express queer desires and identities

Reception and Censorship

• Queer art often faced censorship, suppression, and negative reception from mainstream society and institutions
• The Catholic Church, which held significant power and influence over art and culture, often condemned and censored works with queer themes or imagery
• Artists could face legal consequences, including imprisonment, for creating works that were deemed obscene or immoral
• Queer art was often relegated to private collections or underground circles, where it could be shared and appreciated by like-minded individuals
• Critics and scholars often ignored or dismissed queer themes and imagery in art, or interpreted them through a heteronormative lens
• However, queer art also found appreciation and support within queer communities and among allies who recognized its cultural and personal significance
• In some cases, the censorship and suppression of queer art only served to increase its notoriety and cultural impact
  • The trials of Oscar Wilde, which centered around his homosexuality and the supposed immorality of his works, ultimately served to bring greater attention to queer themes in art and literature

Legacy and Influence on Modern Queer Art

• The pioneering queer artists of the pre-20th century paved the way for future generations of LGBTQ+ artists and activists
• Their use of coded imagery, symbolism, and subversive themes provided a foundation for modern queer art and expression
• The Aesthetic Movement of the late 19th century, which prioritized beauty, sensuality, and individual expression, was heavily influenced by queer artists and writers like Oscar Wilde and Aubrey Beardsley
• The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 30s saw a flourishing of queer African American artists like Langston Hughes, Richard Bruce Nugent, and Richmond Barthé
• The Stonewall Riots of 1969, which marked a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, were heavily influenced by the legacy of queer artists and activists who came before
• Modern queer artists continue to draw inspiration from the works and lives of pre-20th century pioneers, using their art to challenge societal norms, express their identities, and fight for equality and acceptance
• The coded language, symbolism, and themes developed by early queer artists continue to be used and reinterpreted by contemporary LGBTQ+ artists
  • The pink triangle, which was used to identify homosexual men in Nazi concentration camps, has been reclaimed as a symbol of queer pride and resistance
  • The rainbow flag, which has become a universal symbol of LGBTQ+ identity and pride, draws on the legacy of color symbolism in queer art and culture