Sappho 1871

"Sappho" is a chalk drawing by Camille Corot. In it, we see a lone figure sitting in a landscape, identified as the ancient Greek poet Sappho. Corot lived during a time of significant social change, including shifting attitudes towards women in the arts and literature. He was working within a male-dominated art world that often portrayed women through a male gaze. Sappho was an important figure, a woman who expressed desire for other women, and whose poetry was very popular in the 19th century. It is interesting to consider what it meant for a male artist in the 19th century to depict Sappho. Is he celebrating female creativity and desire, or is he appropriating Sappho's story for his own purposes? What does it mean to imagine her as a solitary figure? As you consider the image, think about how it reflects both Corot’s personal vision and the broader societal attitudes towards women and sexuality during his time.