Animerotics: A Forbidden Cabaret

by David Delamare, Wendy Ice

In 1894 wealthy eccentric Alphonse Zukor shocked European society by mounting an illegal underground cabaret-an alphabetic series of erotic acts featuring beautiful nude women and exotic animals. The bizarre performances changed the world by attracting and influencing such luminaries as Thomas Edison, Sigmund Freud, and Igor Stravinsky. In this lavish volume, artist David Delamare deftly recreates each of the cabaret's darkly alluring show cards. A living mermaid, a fire breathing tiger tamer, the knife throwing Donatello twins, and a Houdini-inspired escape from an octopus tank are just a few of the twenty-six seductive acts captured in these sensual sepia tone paintings. An expert showman, Delamare spins a fantastical tale of creative obsession and singular vision to lure audience members into his own smoky kaleidoscopic world. At curtain's close they are left wondering whether they've witnessed an actual slice of history or an artist's sleight of hand.

Genres: Art

64 pages, Paperback

First published May 21, 2001

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this book after purchasing a series of greeting cards of selected art from it, which I framed and hung on a wall. You may have seen Mr. Delamare’s signature sepia-toned fairy or mermaid art which is equally stunning. Animerotics features 26 gorgeously illustrated cabaret-style show cards, one for each letter of the alphabet, with burlesque performers in sometimes precarious poses alongside a variety of exotic animals. As seedy as that might sound, the artwork is anything but.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

You won't stumble across much that's like this book on an ordinary day. The images in this are a classic style of painterly erotica with strange imagery and an unusually stark and surprising style of linework and juxtaposition. It's particularly interesting for the introductory text and serves as a fascinatingly "grown up"--in every sense of the word--sequel to the alphabet books of childhood. Worth a browse if you pass by it in the right sort of bookstore's art section.

[Mathilda Craft]

Anxiously awaiting this too.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved it.

[Zia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful!

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good for Halloween ideas. Except for, you know, all the nudity.