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The Doll (La Poupee) by Hans Bellmer Sat Jan 20 2024
 In 1933, Polish-born artist Hans Bellmer created his doll; a grotesque, life-size paper-mache and plaster amalgamation with features of a pubescent girl. The limbs of this doll were detachable, giving Bellmer complete control of how the doll is posed. Control was an important facet of the creation and photographing of this doll, as Bellmer partly used his pedophilic fantasies as inspiration. 

The Doll (La Popee)
Hans Bellmer
1936

     Bellmer’s La Poupee delves into taboo subjects of sadism, masochism, and fetishism applied to objects of childhood. His dolls are photographed partially or fully nude, often only wearing ankle socks and childlike mary janes .The doll’s body parts are contorted, and mutilated depicting the female body as a fragmented object instead of a living, breathing being. It is debated whether La Poupee should be interpreted as a snapshot into Bellmer’s desires, or a stark rejection of the Nazi party’s ideals of perfection.

This series of photos, specifically the one pictured, fascinated me at first glance. I knew nothing about the artist, or history of the project yet connected with the doll almost immedietly. This image made me feel perverted, like I was spying on the doll in its most vunerable state. Her gaze is hauntingly defeated, as if she knows I’m capable of breaking her more, and probably plan on it. I can’t help but sympathize with the doll, every aspect of it, from position to appearance evokes a feeling of distress in me, making me feel like I walked in on an actual human girl. Learning of Bellmer’s depraved fantasies only furthers my uneasiness because it now feels like a glimpse into a sick mind. The sexual intent behind La Poupee deeply disturbs me, yet fascinates me. How anyone can replicate a child’s suffering so well, and treat it as erotica is nausiating, but also makes me want to pick apart their mind looking for a cause. 

    Whether Bellmer’s La Poupee. is an act of rebellion, or an expression of unspeakable perversion, the themes of this photo are brutal, and sadly reflective of the realities of many young girls. It transports you into the position of a vouyeristic predator, as well an innocent victim.
Trudy Jane RaekeTexas State University
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