Gradiva (novel)
Encyclopedia
Gradiva is a novel by Wilhelm Jensen
, first published in Germany
in 1903. It was inspired by a Roman bas-relief of the same name
and became the basis for Sigmund Freud
's famous 1907 study Delusion and Dream in Jensen's Gradiva
. Freud owned a copy of this bas-relief, which he had joyfully beheld in the Vatican Museums in 1907; it can be found on the wall of his study (the room where he died) in 20 Maresfield Gardens, London – now the Freud Museum
.
. Soon afterwards, Hanold dreams that he has been transported back in time to meet the girl whose unusual gait so captivates him. He sees her walking in the streets of Pompeii while the hot ashes of Vesuvius subsume the city in 79 AD.
This fantastical dream leads Hanold on a real journey to Rome, Naples, and ultimately Pompeii, where, amazingly, he sees the Gradiva of his bas-relief stepping calmly and buoyantly across the lava stepping-stones. He follows her, loses her, then finds her sitting on the low steps between two pillars. He greets her in Latin, only to be answered, "If you wish to speak to me, you must do so in German." When he addresses her as if she were the girl of his dream, however, she looks at him without comprehension, gets up and leaves. Hanold calls out after her, "Are you coming here again tomorrow in the noon hour?" But she does not turn round, gives no answer, and a few moments later disappears round the corner. Hanold hurries after her, but she is nowhere to be seen. What follows is his quest to determine whether the woman he has seen is real or a delusion.
released a film titled Gradiva, based on Jensen's novel and featuring Laura Antonelli
as Gradiva. Albertazzi is best known for his portrayal of the male protagonist in Last Year at Marienbad
, written by Alain Robbe-Grillet
, who would himself go on to direct a film based on Jensen's novel.
In 2006, the French writer and filmmaker Alain Robbe-Grillet (died 2008) released a film titled ("It's Gradiva Who is Calling You"), which was roughly based on the novel, although updated to more recent times (no earlier than the 1970s). It begins with an English art historian
named John Locke who is doing research in Morocco
on the paintings and drawings that French artist Eugène Delacroix
(1798 – 1863) produced over a century before, when he travelled to the country, then a French colony, as part of a diplomatic mission. Locke spots a beautiful, mysterious blonde girl (Gradiva) in flowing robes dashing through the back alleys of Marrakech
, and becomes consumed with the need to track her down. Like most of Robbe-Grillet's cinematic output, the film is highly surreal and also has explicit scenes of sex slavery, nudity and sadomasochism.
Wilhelm Jensen
Wilhelm Hermann Jensen was a German writer and poet.-Biography:Wilhelm Jensen was born at Heiligenhafen in Holstein , the natural son of Swenn Hans Jensen , the Mayor of the city of Kiel, later administrator of the German/Danish island of Sylt, who came of old patrician Frisian stock...
, first published in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1903. It was inspired by a Roman bas-relief of the same name
Gradiva
Gradiva is a neo-Attic Roman bas-relief in the manner of Greek works of the fourth century BCE, depicting a young robed woman who lifts the hems of her skirts to stride forward. The relief is in the Vatican Museums...
and became the basis for Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
's famous 1907 study Delusion and Dream in Jensen's Gradiva
Delusion and Dream in Jensen's Gradiva
Delusion and Dream in Jensen's Gradiva is an essay by Sigmund Freud that subjects the novel Gradiva by Wilhelm Jensen, and especially its protagonist, to psychoanalysis....
. Freud owned a copy of this bas-relief, which he had joyfully beheld in the Vatican Museums in 1907; it can be found on the wall of his study (the room where he died) in 20 Maresfield Gardens, London – now the Freud Museum
Freud Museum
The Freud Museum, at 20 Maresfield Gardens in Hampstead, was the home of Sigmund Freud and his family when they escaped Nazi annexation of Austria in 1938. It remained the family home until Anna Freud, the youngest daughter, died in 1982. The centrepiece of the museum is Freud's study, preserved...
.
Plot synopsis
The story is about an archaeologist named Norbert Hanold who is obsessed with a woman depicted in a bas-relief that he sees in a museum in Rome. After his return to Germany, he manages to get a plaster-cast of the relief, which he hangs on a wall in his work-room and contemplates daily. He comes to feel that her calm, quiet manner does not belong in bustling, cosmopolitan Rome, but rather in some smaller city, and one day an image comes to him of the girl in the relief walking on the peculiar stepping-stones that cross the streets in PompeiiPompeii
The city of Pompeii is a partially buried Roman town-city near modern Naples in the Italian region of Campania, in the territory of the comune of Pompei. Along with Herculaneum, Pompeii was destroyed and completely buried during a long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning...
. Soon afterwards, Hanold dreams that he has been transported back in time to meet the girl whose unusual gait so captivates him. He sees her walking in the streets of Pompeii while the hot ashes of Vesuvius subsume the city in 79 AD.
This fantastical dream leads Hanold on a real journey to Rome, Naples, and ultimately Pompeii, where, amazingly, he sees the Gradiva of his bas-relief stepping calmly and buoyantly across the lava stepping-stones. He follows her, loses her, then finds her sitting on the low steps between two pillars. He greets her in Latin, only to be answered, "If you wish to speak to me, you must do so in German." When he addresses her as if she were the girl of his dream, however, she looks at him without comprehension, gets up and leaves. Hanold calls out after her, "Are you coming here again tomorrow in the noon hour?" But she does not turn round, gives no answer, and a few moments later disappears round the corner. Hanold hurries after her, but she is nowhere to be seen. What follows is his quest to determine whether the woman he has seen is real or a delusion.
Films
In 1970, the Italian actor and filmmaker Giorgio AlbertazziGiorgio Albertazzi
Giorgio Albertazzi is an Italian actor and film director.Born in San Martino a Mensola Albertazzi joined the Italian Social Republic and reached the rank of lieutenant. After their defeat, he spent two years in prison for collaborating...
released a film titled Gradiva, based on Jensen's novel and featuring Laura Antonelli
Laura Antonelli
Laura Antonelli is a retired Italian film actress, who appeared in 45 movies between 1965 and 1991.- Early years :Antonelli was born Laura Antonaz in Pola, then capital of the province of Istria, Italy ....
as Gradiva. Albertazzi is best known for his portrayal of the male protagonist in Last Year at Marienbad
Last Year at Marienbad
L'Année dernière à Marienbad is a 1961 French film directed by Alain Resnais from a screenplay by Alain Robbe-Grillet....
, written by Alain Robbe-Grillet
Alain Robbe-Grillet
Alain Robbe-Grillet , was a French writer and filmmaker. He was, along with Nathalie Sarraute, Michel Butor and Claude Simon, one of the figures most associated with the Nouveau Roman trend. Alain Robbe-Grillet was elected a member of the Académie française on March 25, 2004, succeeding Maurice...
, who would himself go on to direct a film based on Jensen's novel.
In 2006, the French writer and filmmaker Alain Robbe-Grillet (died 2008) released a film titled ("It's Gradiva Who is Calling You"), which was roughly based on the novel, although updated to more recent times (no earlier than the 1970s). It begins with an English art historian
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
named John Locke who is doing research in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
on the paintings and drawings that French artist Eugène Delacroix
Eugène Delacroix
Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix was a French Romantic artist regarded from the outset of his career as the leader of the French Romantic school...
(1798 – 1863) produced over a century before, when he travelled to the country, then a French colony, as part of a diplomatic mission. Locke spots a beautiful, mysterious blonde girl (Gradiva) in flowing robes dashing through the back alleys of Marrakech
Marrakech
Marrakech or Marrakesh , known as the "Ochre city", is the most important former imperial city in Morocco's history...
, and becomes consumed with the need to track her down. Like most of Robbe-Grillet's cinematic output, the film is highly surreal and also has explicit scenes of sex slavery, nudity and sadomasochism.
External links
- Freud MuseumFreud MuseumThe Freud Museum, at 20 Maresfield Gardens in Hampstead, was the home of Sigmund Freud and his family when they escaped Nazi annexation of Austria in 1938. It remained the family home until Anna Freud, the youngest daughter, died in 1982. The centrepiece of the museum is Freud's study, preserved...
, Vienna - Freud MuseumFreud MuseumThe Freud Museum, at 20 Maresfield Gardens in Hampstead, was the home of Sigmund Freud and his family when they escaped Nazi annexation of Austria in 1938. It remained the family home until Anna Freud, the youngest daughter, died in 1982. The centrepiece of the museum is Freud's study, preserved...
, London - The relief at the Freud Museum, London.