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Mademoiselle Baudelaire
Deux cents ans après sa naissance, Baudelaire continue de marquer les générations et le poète plane sur l'oeuvre d'Yslaire depuis les origines. C'est pourtant Jeanne Duval, celle que le poète a le plus aimée et le plus maudite, que le dessinateur a choisie pour revisiter dans ce chef-d'oeuvre la matière sulfureuse et autobiographique des Fleurs du mal. De Jeanne, pourtant, on ne sait presque rien, ni son vrai nom, ni sa date de naissance, ni sa date de décès. Aucune lettre signée de sa main ne nous est parvenue. Restent quelques témoignages, des portraits dessinés par Baudelaire lui-même, une photo de Nadar non authentifiée, sans oublier les poèmes qu'elle lui a inspirés. Jeanne, "c'est l'invisible de toute une époque" qui réapparaît dans la résonance féministe de la nôtre. Elle qui était stigmatisée comme mulâtresse, créole et surnommée "Vénus noire" en référence à la "Vénus hottentote", aimante tous les préjugés d'un siècle misogyne et raciste.
160 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 2021
1 person is currently reading
88 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
November 10, 2021
Review originally posted here: https://sammythecritic.blogspot.com/2...
Synopsis: This historical memoir takes a poetic, passionate look into 19th-century French poet Charles Baudelaire’s affair with Creole mistress Jeanne Duval.
Disclaimer: This being part erotica, expect some graphic descriptions ahead try as I might to tastefully present it.
My Thoughts: Plot (4/5) – While ample information on Baudelaire’s life is available, Jeanne Duval has become more of a figure mythologized as Black Venus in his body of work with little else known. Therefore, this book takes several creative liberties with its interpretation of their relationship, making this mostly a historical dramatization which was a sufficient premise for me given how many works there are focusing on mysterious figures, a subject I tend to find fascinating.
Pacing (2/5) – This is where most of my problems lie. Throughout much of the narrative, there are paragraphs of waxing poetic from Baudelaire’s flowery monologuing to the continual epistolary exchanges between the characters, the latter of which’s perspective became confusing to discern. The writing itself is articulated with descriptive beauty galore and would have been perfect in prose, but it clogs up so much of the panels’ space that it feels more distracting and grueling to read through considering how much of the story is conveyed through visual metaphor.
Art (5/5) – I would consider this part the book’s strongest suit. Yslaire masterfully used his thinly sketched lineart and harsh, fuzzy colors to convey a dreary tone that complemented the actions well. The hallucinatory imagery was particularly a marvel to the eyes, amplifying the symbolism throughout. My favorite instance of this is how Baudelaire’s penis is depicted as a serpent insatiable in its voracious lust for pleasure while Duval is juxtaposed to a wild leopard which tragically reflected upon how he views her as a person. That is to say, a savage beast which he has tamed into civility with Western assimilationism, an ethnocentric bar which a lot of society still sets to this day.
Final Thoughts: Mademoiselle Baudelaire is an ambitious project which, while successful on an artistic level and thematic level, was heavily bogged down by its bloated text thus leaving an average impression overall. However, if this is something you can get past, you might enjoy this graphic novel.
Thanks to Europe Comics and NetGalley for providing me with my first advance ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: This historical memoir takes a poetic, passionate look into 19th-century French poet Charles Baudelaire’s affair with Creole mistress Jeanne Duval.
Disclaimer: This being part erotica, expect some graphic descriptions ahead try as I might to tastefully present it.
My Thoughts: Plot (4/5) – While ample information on Baudelaire’s life is available, Jeanne Duval has become more of a figure mythologized as Black Venus in his body of work with little else known. Therefore, this book takes several creative liberties with its interpretation of their relationship, making this mostly a historical dramatization which was a sufficient premise for me given how many works there are focusing on mysterious figures, a subject I tend to find fascinating.
Pacing (2/5) – This is where most of my problems lie. Throughout much of the narrative, there are paragraphs of waxing poetic from Baudelaire’s flowery monologuing to the continual epistolary exchanges between the characters, the latter of which’s perspective became confusing to discern. The writing itself is articulated with descriptive beauty galore and would have been perfect in prose, but it clogs up so much of the panels’ space that it feels more distracting and grueling to read through considering how much of the story is conveyed through visual metaphor.
Art (5/5) – I would consider this part the book’s strongest suit. Yslaire masterfully used his thinly sketched lineart and harsh, fuzzy colors to convey a dreary tone that complemented the actions well. The hallucinatory imagery was particularly a marvel to the eyes, amplifying the symbolism throughout. My favorite instance of this is how Baudelaire’s penis is depicted as a serpent insatiable in its voracious lust for pleasure while Duval is juxtaposed to a wild leopard which tragically reflected upon how he views her as a person. That is to say, a savage beast which he has tamed into civility with Western assimilationism, an ethnocentric bar which a lot of society still sets to this day.
Final Thoughts: Mademoiselle Baudelaire is an ambitious project which, while successful on an artistic level and thematic level, was heavily bogged down by its bloated text thus leaving an average impression overall. However, if this is something you can get past, you might enjoy this graphic novel.
Thanks to Europe Comics and NetGalley for providing me with my first advance ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2022
Životopis Baudelaira z pohledu „Černé Venuše“, jeho milenky a souputnice, o které toho historici literatury vědí jen málo. Působivou kresbu, která je nejsilnější na stránkách bez bublin s krátkými texty dokreslují citáty z Baudelairových veršů a líčení jeho bujarého i zoufalého života. Ve druhé polovině knihy se vyprávění láme a nápad, že je z pera Jeanne Duval, bere za své – nevzdělaná žena, kterou (pořádně) francouzsky naučil (nejspíš) její milenec a „Pán“ by asi sotva jeho matce popisovala dějinné a politické události, včetně revoluce v roce 1848, navíc bezchybně. Volba spisovné češtiny v překladu možná padá na hlavu redakce: kromě ní zamrzí asi dvě nejasné bubliny s chybějícím slovem (ne-li slovy?) a post-obrozenecké přechylování jména George Sand –představa, že si baronka Dudevant zvolila mužský pseudonym, aby ho ještě v 21. století někdo v Čechách svévolně měnil na ženský, je přinejmenším absurdní.
June 28, 2022
At first, the art seems interesting. Then everything collapses. The narration is like they copypasted a book and the art gets even weaker, in a subpar story about the lover of Baudelaire from Haiti.
October 26, 2021
I will come clean with the fact that prior to reading this, I was largely unaware of the works and life of acclaimed French poet, Charles Baudelaire. Truthfully, I am not a big poetry reader, so while I’ve seen his name, I can’t say if I’ve ever read a word he’s ever written. This is a fact I really should rectify! I see that he was a big fan of Edgar Allan Poe, and if his poems are in any way influenced, I may have to check out his works. So how has this man, dead many moons ago, come across my mind? That is thanks to the new biographical graphic novel Mademoiselle Baudelaire by Yslaire, a new book from Europe Comics. This graphic novel mostly focuses on Baudelaire’s tumultuous relationship with a young Haitian actress and dancer named Jeanne Duval. Duval was an enigmatic figure in history, as many can’t even pinpoint exactly when she passed away, much less how she felt about various people that this book talks about. Yslaire does his best to use what known facts about the couple are out there and recreate this time period in history to the best of his ability. Granted, much more is known about Charles than his creole mistress, so one can assume most of the dialogue and situations are created with some sort of artistic liberty.
“Baudelaire: poète maudit, enfant terrible, lyric genius, crippling perfectionist. Bereft of a father at age five, he spent his days squandering the former’s fortune on prostitutes and paintings, opium and alcohol, finery and laundry bills for his impeccably white dandy’s collars. He loved a woman and gave her syphilis. This is her story. Muse, mulatto, mistress, mystery… little was known of Jeanne in her day, and even less remembered since. Yslaire pays tribute to a brimstone-and-hellfire affair from the annals of literature, two misunderstood souls who in their mutual misunderstanding afforded each other what little solace they found in life.”
The book is done in an epistolary novel style, using letters written from Duvall to Charles’ mother upon his death trying to make a case for why she is claiming part of his inheritance, and to let the mother in on details of their relationship. Perhaps this is the only real fault I can find in this book, as it doesn’t make much sense as to why she would recount his childhood to somebody that knows better than she, or intimate details of their sex life to a man’s own mother. Through this motif, however, we also see much of the writer’s aforementioned past, his sad upbringing and his tendency towards the macabre that made him who he was. Baudelaire seemed, if this account is historical, to not value women too much – simply seeing them as pieces of meat to be fondled. We see his interactions with many “ladies of the night” wherein he is borderline abusive to them with his words, but frequents their establishment often. It seems the only woman he is truly smitten with is Duval, whom he seems to have an almost unhealthy attraction to, seemingly more of a fetish than anything else.
If you have not already gathered, this book is not intended for younger readers, and contains multiple scenes of an explicit sexual nature. At this time, it seems like most self-described “bohemians” apparently did much else but frequent houses of ill repute and smoke opium, so we get a lot of that here. To me, it never crossed the line into being gratuitous seeing that most of the images were done in an artistic manner, many were stylized, and others held visual allusions and metaphors within the frames rather than overt depictions of intercourse. If you are rather prudish, or do not want to experience anything of an erotic nature, I’d recommend sitting this one out. All of the passion soon ends in the story as they both become sick with “Cupid’s Disease”.
I think I was most taken aback by how much syphilis ravaged both Charles and Jeanne throughout the later part of the story. At one point, we see an aged Charles talking to one of his friends, to which he remarks “you’re 40 now…” when he clearly looks much much older. As somebody just shy of that age mark, it made me sit there and think of my own mortality a bit, seeing a man so clearly on death’s door and somewhat young. Left untreated, the ailment destroyed both of them, making them have trouble walking, experience delirium, and even have suicidal thoughts. Yes, Charles starts taking things like Mercury and Laudanum, but neither of which cures in any way. Both blame the other for being the progenitor of their predicament, and it causes them to drift farther and farther away until they live a life of embittered resentment towards each other. Charles even becomes religious, but drifts into an odd version Satanism to try to soothe his soul.
All-in-all, I enjoyed Mademoiselle Baudelaire by Yslaire quite a bit, and it has intrigued me on the writings of Charles Baudelaire as a whole. It’s not a very happy story, and at times the characters can be fairly unlikeable, but its a great way to get into the minds of members of the French artists of the mid nineteenth century, so for that I will give it props. I’m used to getting various volumes of shorter works from Europe Comics, so being able to sink my teeth into a full-on graphic novel was a nice change of pace. If you are a fan of history, or learning about French social life in that time period you can not find a better comic to get into, even if it’s separated a bit from reality, the story is still very good.
“Baudelaire: poète maudit, enfant terrible, lyric genius, crippling perfectionist. Bereft of a father at age five, he spent his days squandering the former’s fortune on prostitutes and paintings, opium and alcohol, finery and laundry bills for his impeccably white dandy’s collars. He loved a woman and gave her syphilis. This is her story. Muse, mulatto, mistress, mystery… little was known of Jeanne in her day, and even less remembered since. Yslaire pays tribute to a brimstone-and-hellfire affair from the annals of literature, two misunderstood souls who in their mutual misunderstanding afforded each other what little solace they found in life.”
The book is done in an epistolary novel style, using letters written from Duvall to Charles’ mother upon his death trying to make a case for why she is claiming part of his inheritance, and to let the mother in on details of their relationship. Perhaps this is the only real fault I can find in this book, as it doesn’t make much sense as to why she would recount his childhood to somebody that knows better than she, or intimate details of their sex life to a man’s own mother. Through this motif, however, we also see much of the writer’s aforementioned past, his sad upbringing and his tendency towards the macabre that made him who he was. Baudelaire seemed, if this account is historical, to not value women too much – simply seeing them as pieces of meat to be fondled. We see his interactions with many “ladies of the night” wherein he is borderline abusive to them with his words, but frequents their establishment often. It seems the only woman he is truly smitten with is Duval, whom he seems to have an almost unhealthy attraction to, seemingly more of a fetish than anything else.
If you have not already gathered, this book is not intended for younger readers, and contains multiple scenes of an explicit sexual nature. At this time, it seems like most self-described “bohemians” apparently did much else but frequent houses of ill repute and smoke opium, so we get a lot of that here. To me, it never crossed the line into being gratuitous seeing that most of the images were done in an artistic manner, many were stylized, and others held visual allusions and metaphors within the frames rather than overt depictions of intercourse. If you are rather prudish, or do not want to experience anything of an erotic nature, I’d recommend sitting this one out. All of the passion soon ends in the story as they both become sick with “Cupid’s Disease”.
I think I was most taken aback by how much syphilis ravaged both Charles and Jeanne throughout the later part of the story. At one point, we see an aged Charles talking to one of his friends, to which he remarks “you’re 40 now…” when he clearly looks much much older. As somebody just shy of that age mark, it made me sit there and think of my own mortality a bit, seeing a man so clearly on death’s door and somewhat young. Left untreated, the ailment destroyed both of them, making them have trouble walking, experience delirium, and even have suicidal thoughts. Yes, Charles starts taking things like Mercury and Laudanum, but neither of which cures in any way. Both blame the other for being the progenitor of their predicament, and it causes them to drift farther and farther away until they live a life of embittered resentment towards each other. Charles even becomes religious, but drifts into an odd version Satanism to try to soothe his soul.
All-in-all, I enjoyed Mademoiselle Baudelaire by Yslaire quite a bit, and it has intrigued me on the writings of Charles Baudelaire as a whole. It’s not a very happy story, and at times the characters can be fairly unlikeable, but its a great way to get into the minds of members of the French artists of the mid nineteenth century, so for that I will give it props. I’m used to getting various volumes of shorter works from Europe Comics, so being able to sink my teeth into a full-on graphic novel was a nice change of pace. If you are a fan of history, or learning about French social life in that time period you can not find a better comic to get into, even if it’s separated a bit from reality, the story is still very good.
June 29, 2022
Life and struggle of the one of the most influential poets from perspective of his lover. Was he genius or just spoiled kid? Maybe both. Interesting book, although visually it wasn't really my style. It evoked some combination of photo collage and drawing. Sometimes chaotic and dirty, sometimes quite clear. But it is definitely interesting historic piece. 3.5*
November 16, 2021
Je ne suis pas familière avec Baudelaire et ses écrits. Honnêtement, je crois l’avoir lu que quelques fois dans ma vie et c’était dans un cadre scolaire. Cependant, lorsque j’ai vu la couverture de cette bande dessinée, elle a immédiatement attiré ma curiosité et j’ai eu envie de plonger dans l’univers du poète maudit.
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Dès les premières images, nous sommes plongés dans l’univers sombre qui entoure Charles Baudelaire. C’est l’un des points forts : les illustrations rendent tangibles la déchéance de Baudelaire. Bien que la trame narrative soit orientée vers Jeanne Duval, la muse de Baudelaire, elle offre de nombreux faits intéressants sur Baudelaire, de sa vie à l’enfance, à un rythme entraînant. Par contre, le passage sur l’engagement politique du poète m’a un peu ennuyée. Cette BD était magnifique, autant pour les illustrations que pour les connaissances que j’ai tirées.
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Si vous êtes tenté de la lire, ne soyez pas trop pudiques car elle contient des scènes de nudité!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Dès les premières images, nous sommes plongés dans l’univers sombre qui entoure Charles Baudelaire. C’est l’un des points forts : les illustrations rendent tangibles la déchéance de Baudelaire. Bien que la trame narrative soit orientée vers Jeanne Duval, la muse de Baudelaire, elle offre de nombreux faits intéressants sur Baudelaire, de sa vie à l’enfance, à un rythme entraînant. Par contre, le passage sur l’engagement politique du poète m’a un peu ennuyée. Cette BD était magnifique, autant pour les illustrations que pour les connaissances que j’ai tirées.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Si vous êtes tenté de la lire, ne soyez pas trop pudiques car elle contient des scènes de nudité!
April 18, 2022
Sublimes dessins, sordide histoire.
Cette bande dessinée n'aidera clairement pas à réhabiliter Baudelaire à mes yeux mais cela m'a donné envie de relire les Fleurs du Mal pour voir ce qu'il y dit de Jeanne.
Cette bande dessinée n'aidera clairement pas à réhabiliter Baudelaire à mes yeux mais cela m'a donné envie de relire les Fleurs du Mal pour voir ce qu'il y dit de Jeanne.
May 13, 2022
Květy zla. Charles Baudelaire. Kde nacházel inspiraci? Kým byla jeho múza? Jak jej ovlivnila? Nejen odpovědi na tyto otázky naleznete v nádherně zpracovaném titulu s názvem Slečna Baudelairová. 160 stránek plné kreseb s atmosférickým nádechem francouzské temnoty se spoustou obohacujících informací.
Obrovské doporůčo, pokud vám nevadí otevřeně intimní, realistické, někdy možná až děsivé vykreslení nejrůznějších skutečností, směle do toho.
Nalákám vás i anotací?
„I dvě stě let po svém narození zůstává Charles Baudelaire jedním z nejčtenějších a nejobdivovanějších básníků. V Yslairově komiksu se ovšem na jeho život díváme optikou Jeanne Duvalové, té, kterou miloval i nenáviděl nejvíc. O Jeanne ve skutečnosti nevíme prakticky nic: neznáme její pravé jméno, nevíme, kdy se narodila ani kdy zemřela, nemáme žádný z jejích dopisů. Zůstalo jen pár svědectví, několik portrétů od samotného Baudelaire a samozřejmě básně, k nimž ho inspirovala. Přesto se díky Yslairovi dovedeme vcítit do této vzývané a opovrhované ženy, „černé Venuše“, jež musela čelit misogynii i rasismu své doby. Před očima nám tu ve fascinujících kresbách a s množstvím pečlivě rešeršovaných detailů vyvstává nejen tragický milostný příběh Jeanne a Charlese, nýbrž také okolnosti vzniku Květů zla a bohémské a umělecké, ale i revoluční prostředí Paříže kolem poloviny 19. století.”
„Vzpomeňte, duše má, nač za letního rána,
jak stvořeného pro lásku,
jsme přišli: u cesty zdechlina rozežraná
na horkém loži z oblásků,
s nohama nahoru jak žena všeho znalá
a potíc jedy zpod žáru,
nedbale, nestoudně dokořán otvírala
své břicho plné výparů.
Na tuto hnilobu zářilo slunce zlobně,
jak dopéci by chtělo tu
a velké Přírodě zas vrátit stonásobně,
co spojila kdys v jednotu;
a nebe patřilo, jak zdechlina v své slávě
jako květ rozvíjí se dál.
Takový silný puch, že vy jste z toho v trávě
div neomdlela, na nás vál.
A mouchy bzučely nad břichem, z jehož hnilob
dralo se černo páchnoucích
pluků larv, valících se jako černý sirob
podél těch cárů živoucích.
To všechno klesalo a stoupalo jak vlna,
či perlilo se praskajíc;
to tělo, řekl bys, nafouklé mlhou zplna,
množí se, žije ještě víc.“
Obrovské doporůčo, pokud vám nevadí otevřeně intimní, realistické, někdy možná až děsivé vykreslení nejrůznějších skutečností, směle do toho.
Nalákám vás i anotací?
„I dvě stě let po svém narození zůstává Charles Baudelaire jedním z nejčtenějších a nejobdivovanějších básníků. V Yslairově komiksu se ovšem na jeho život díváme optikou Jeanne Duvalové, té, kterou miloval i nenáviděl nejvíc. O Jeanne ve skutečnosti nevíme prakticky nic: neznáme její pravé jméno, nevíme, kdy se narodila ani kdy zemřela, nemáme žádný z jejích dopisů. Zůstalo jen pár svědectví, několik portrétů od samotného Baudelaire a samozřejmě básně, k nimž ho inspirovala. Přesto se díky Yslairovi dovedeme vcítit do této vzývané a opovrhované ženy, „černé Venuše“, jež musela čelit misogynii i rasismu své doby. Před očima nám tu ve fascinujících kresbách a s množstvím pečlivě rešeršovaných detailů vyvstává nejen tragický milostný příběh Jeanne a Charlese, nýbrž také okolnosti vzniku Květů zla a bohémské a umělecké, ale i revoluční prostředí Paříže kolem poloviny 19. století.”
„Vzpomeňte, duše má, nač za letního rána,
jak stvořeného pro lásku,
jsme přišli: u cesty zdechlina rozežraná
na horkém loži z oblásků,
s nohama nahoru jak žena všeho znalá
a potíc jedy zpod žáru,
nedbale, nestoudně dokořán otvírala
své břicho plné výparů.
Na tuto hnilobu zářilo slunce zlobně,
jak dopéci by chtělo tu
a velké Přírodě zas vrátit stonásobně,
co spojila kdys v jednotu;
a nebe patřilo, jak zdechlina v své slávě
jako květ rozvíjí se dál.
Takový silný puch, že vy jste z toho v trávě
div neomdlela, na nás vál.
A mouchy bzučely nad břichem, z jehož hnilob
dralo se černo páchnoucích
pluků larv, valících se jako černý sirob
podél těch cárů živoucích.
To všechno klesalo a stoupalo jak vlna,
či perlilo se praskajíc;
to tělo, řekl bys, nafouklé mlhou zplna,
množí se, žije ještě víc.“
September 1, 2021
Juffrouw Baudelaire. Door Yslaire.
Juffrouw Baudelaire is eigenlijk een lange brief waarin Jeanne (Duval, ‘de Zwarte Venus’) aan de moeder van Charles Baudelaire een deel van diens erfenis vraagt. De brief behelst Baudelaire’s biografie en daaraan onlosmakelijk verbonden Jeanne’s leven vanaf de dag dat ze Charles ontmoette. Waar ze daarvoor is geweest en waar ze oorspronkelijk vandaan komt blijft een raadsel, een mysterie.
De kenmerkende stijl van Yslaire is, net zoals in de reeksen Samber en De Oorlog van de Sambers, alom aanwezig: donker, grauw, met hier en daar een rood accent. Hij richt zich ook hier voornamelijk op de relaties (vriendschappelijk en amoureus) tussen mensen.
Zijn werk is dus eerder psychologisch dan plot gedreven wat in een biografie van een woelig leven heel goed werkt. De dualiteit tussen ideaal en spleen, tussen de roes van de liefde en het verlies ervan vormt de hoofdtoon in het werk (zijn poëzie, zoals Les Fleurs du mal, geïnspireerd op Jeanne) en leven van Baudelaire, net als in deze autobiografische graphic novel.
Jeanne was van gemengde afkomst, ze was actrice in een klein theater toen ze Charles leerde kennen, en ze werd voor hem een godin en een demon in één. Hun levens werden vanaf dag één voorgoed passioneel in elkaar verstrengeld. Feminisme, racisme, het niet passen in een mal, worstelen met verslaving, aftakeling, ziekte, verlangen, verlies,… het blijven (soms jammer genoeg) herkenbare onderwerpen.
Yslaire vertelt het verhaal van Charles en Jeanne, maar ergens raakt hij aan ons allemaal.
Juffrouw Baudelaire is eigenlijk een lange brief waarin Jeanne (Duval, ‘de Zwarte Venus’) aan de moeder van Charles Baudelaire een deel van diens erfenis vraagt. De brief behelst Baudelaire’s biografie en daaraan onlosmakelijk verbonden Jeanne’s leven vanaf de dag dat ze Charles ontmoette. Waar ze daarvoor is geweest en waar ze oorspronkelijk vandaan komt blijft een raadsel, een mysterie.
De kenmerkende stijl van Yslaire is, net zoals in de reeksen Samber en De Oorlog van de Sambers, alom aanwezig: donker, grauw, met hier en daar een rood accent. Hij richt zich ook hier voornamelijk op de relaties (vriendschappelijk en amoureus) tussen mensen.
Zijn werk is dus eerder psychologisch dan plot gedreven wat in een biografie van een woelig leven heel goed werkt. De dualiteit tussen ideaal en spleen, tussen de roes van de liefde en het verlies ervan vormt de hoofdtoon in het werk (zijn poëzie, zoals Les Fleurs du mal, geïnspireerd op Jeanne) en leven van Baudelaire, net als in deze autobiografische graphic novel.
Jeanne was van gemengde afkomst, ze was actrice in een klein theater toen ze Charles leerde kennen, en ze werd voor hem een godin en een demon in één. Hun levens werden vanaf dag één voorgoed passioneel in elkaar verstrengeld. Feminisme, racisme, het niet passen in een mal, worstelen met verslaving, aftakeling, ziekte, verlangen, verlies,… het blijven (soms jammer genoeg) herkenbare onderwerpen.
Yslaire vertelt het verhaal van Charles en Jeanne, maar ergens raakt hij aan ons allemaal.
April 21, 2022
Na básničky už dávno nejsem a navíc, nebudu to zapírat, jsem od Charlese Baudelaira nikdy nic nečetl. Jasný kulturní barbar. Nicméně na tuto knihu jsem se skutečně těšil. Těšil jsem se, že se dozvím o životě slavného básníka, těšil jsem se na verše, ale především jsem se těšil na úchvatnou kresbu se spoustou erotiky. A skutečně jsem to všechno dostal. Přesto jsem očekával trošku něco jiného.
Kresba je skutečně úžasná a erotika je vcelku dost odvážná. V tomto směru není komiksu co vytknout. Překvapil mě způsob podání básníkova života. Většina knihy je pojatá jako dopis Baudelairovy milenky jeho matce po Charlesově smrti. Tento dopis pokrývá celý jeho život od útlého dětství až do jeho smrti. Popisuje v něm všechny jeho bohémské eskapády, věčné zadlužování a neustálé útěky před exekutory, boj se syfilisem i nekonečné hádky. Takový zcela jistě jeho život byl, ale po nějaké době jsem začal mít pocit, že je to stále to samé furt dokola a mě to přestávalo bavit číst. Celé to bylo stále více a více depresivnější, zejména když ke konci života propadal Baudelaire stále většímu zoufalství. Velkou část knihy tvoří panely bez bublin, pod kterými je text dopisu. A že je to dlouhý dopis se spoustou vět.
Kresba je skutečně úžasná a erotika je vcelku dost odvážná. V tomto směru není komiksu co vytknout. Překvapil mě způsob podání básníkova života. Většina knihy je pojatá jako dopis Baudelairovy milenky jeho matce po Charlesově smrti. Tento dopis pokrývá celý jeho život od útlého dětství až do jeho smrti. Popisuje v něm všechny jeho bohémské eskapády, věčné zadlužování a neustálé útěky před exekutory, boj se syfilisem i nekonečné hádky. Takový zcela jistě jeho život byl, ale po nějaké době jsem začal mít pocit, že je to stále to samé furt dokola a mě to přestávalo bavit číst. Celé to bylo stále více a více depresivnější, zejména když ke konci života propadal Baudelaire stále většímu zoufalství. Velkou část knihy tvoří panely bez bublin, pod kterými je text dopisu. A že je to dlouhý dopis se spoustou vět.
June 4, 2022
Niet het meest trein- of bus veilige boek om te lezen vanwege de (erg) expliciete tekeningen, maar het is wel een heerlijk sfeervol werk zoals we gewoon zijn van Yslaire.
In een mix van groezelige lijnen, heldere kleuren of het gewiekst gebruik van andere media schildert de Brusselaar een prachtig beeld van de liederlijke BaudelAire ens diens giftige relatie met een Zwarte Venus.
Old school Hislaire.
In een mix van groezelige lijnen, heldere kleuren of het gewiekst gebruik van andere media schildert de Brusselaar een prachtig beeld van de liederlijke BaudelAire ens diens giftige relatie met een Zwarte Venus.
Old school Hislaire.
January 4, 2024
Apesar de, talvez, o argumento ser um pouco confuso (mas também, tratando-se de uma espécie de biografia romanceada pelos olhos da 'amante', que vida não seria confusa, quanto mais a de Charles Baudelaire...!), gostei da arte conceptual em geral do autor. Entre as 3 e as 4 estrelas, opto pela classificação mais elevada, porque é uma leitura que eu acho que vale a pena fazer.
June 1, 2021
J'adore les dessins d'Yslaire et ils se marient parfaitement avec la mélancolie de Beaudelaire.
July 24, 2025
La musa escondida de Baudelaire
October 8, 2021
Quand le dessin pretend à décrire la déchéance du poète maudit, tout en illustrant les allégories des fleurs du mal autant que leurs inspirations, le pari est ambitieux mais l’œuvre est à la hauteur. Chapeau bas. Album historiquement très recherché. Ça donne envie de relire Baudelaire…
October 20, 2021
This graphic novel mixes fact and fiction to tell the tale of the romance between French poet, Charles Baudelaire, and Jeanne Duval, the Haitian mulatto woman with whom he maintained a long-term relationship. The fictional portion of the story is necessitated by the fact that some of the couple’s story is unknown. Much more is known about Baudelaire than Duval, and in terms of what is on record, accounts differ. The relationship was passionate and complex, but it’s hard to say how loving it was. Baudelaire is depicted as fetishizing Duval’s dark skin, and Duval seems like a gold-digger at times.
The bulk of the story is told in an epistolary fashion as a letter from Duval to Baudelaire’s mother after the poet’s death. While the epistolary form seems apropos for creating a tone for historical fiction set during the 19th century when that form was all the rage, it was the source of my only problem with the book. That problem is that some of what’s communicated strains credulity. First, the work is erotic in nature, and it seems unlikely that even the most libertine of women would feel the need to share with a mother what they did with her son. It just feels awkward. Second, there is a fair amount of “as you know, Bob” exposition in the letter. [“As you know, Bob” being shorthand for telling a character something that they would know at least as well as the teller knows, and - in some cases - more so.] This is most clearly seen when the letter talks about a time when Baudelaire was living with his mother, such that it’s not clear how Duval knows this information, but it’s non-sensical for her to act as though the mother wouldn’t know.
Other than that, my view of the book was entirely positive. I found the art was effective and captured the spirit of the time well. There’s large amounts of nudity and graphic sexuality, so if that’s troubling for you, it’s not your kind of book. The prose is just purple enough to lend authenticity to the 19th century epistolary format, but quite readable.
I found the book fascinating and I read it straight through. If you’re interested in the Bohemian life of a womanizing poet / laudanum addict, you’ll definitely find this book compelling.
The bulk of the story is told in an epistolary fashion as a letter from Duval to Baudelaire’s mother after the poet’s death. While the epistolary form seems apropos for creating a tone for historical fiction set during the 19th century when that form was all the rage, it was the source of my only problem with the book. That problem is that some of what’s communicated strains credulity. First, the work is erotic in nature, and it seems unlikely that even the most libertine of women would feel the need to share with a mother what they did with her son. It just feels awkward. Second, there is a fair amount of “as you know, Bob” exposition in the letter. [“As you know, Bob” being shorthand for telling a character something that they would know at least as well as the teller knows, and - in some cases - more so.] This is most clearly seen when the letter talks about a time when Baudelaire was living with his mother, such that it’s not clear how Duval knows this information, but it’s non-sensical for her to act as though the mother wouldn’t know.
Other than that, my view of the book was entirely positive. I found the art was effective and captured the spirit of the time well. There’s large amounts of nudity and graphic sexuality, so if that’s troubling for you, it’s not your kind of book. The prose is just purple enough to lend authenticity to the 19th century epistolary format, but quite readable.
I found the book fascinating and I read it straight through. If you’re interested in the Bohemian life of a womanizing poet / laudanum addict, you’ll definitely find this book compelling.
November 18, 2021
First, honesty. I have no idea who the famous French poet, Charles Baudelaire is, nor what made him so famous. Poetry is not something I read often and I find some of it way too flowery for me.
As romantic as someone waxing on about your skin may be...I would burst out laughing.
So onto the Graphic novel that happens to be about Charles Baudelaire and his mistress Jeanne Duval.
Yslaire’s graphic novel mixes fact and fiction to tell the tale of the romance between the French poet, the Haitian mulatto woman with whom he maintained a long-term relationship. Most of what happened between them are unknown so the Author would have had to use some poetic license with the story.
Based on what I read her, the relationship did not lack passion, and some of the more adult drawings would attest to just how passionate.
Baudelaire spends hours waxing eloquently about Duval’s skin color, which seemed to be on the dark end of the spectrum. While Duval comes off looking more like a prostitute or a gold-digger. She seems to always have a man leaving her chambers just as Baudelaire is arriving. Yet that does not make her unwilling to have sex with him.
I would mention that this graphic comic has large amounts of nudity and very graphic sexual images. So if you are offended by such things, or just don't need that close of a look at a woman’s sex, you may want to skip this. They do serve a purpose, more so than just being gratuitous images.
The art was beautifully done, and the story was interesting simply because I had no knowledge of it, but the writing was a bit on the slow and plodding side.
Thanks to @Netgalley, Europe Comics, and Yslaire, for the chance to read this arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
As romantic as someone waxing on about your skin may be...I would burst out laughing.
So onto the Graphic novel that happens to be about Charles Baudelaire and his mistress Jeanne Duval.
Yslaire’s graphic novel mixes fact and fiction to tell the tale of the romance between the French poet, the Haitian mulatto woman with whom he maintained a long-term relationship. Most of what happened between them are unknown so the Author would have had to use some poetic license with the story.
Based on what I read her, the relationship did not lack passion, and some of the more adult drawings would attest to just how passionate.
Baudelaire spends hours waxing eloquently about Duval’s skin color, which seemed to be on the dark end of the spectrum. While Duval comes off looking more like a prostitute or a gold-digger. She seems to always have a man leaving her chambers just as Baudelaire is arriving. Yet that does not make her unwilling to have sex with him.
I would mention that this graphic comic has large amounts of nudity and very graphic sexual images. So if you are offended by such things, or just don't need that close of a look at a woman’s sex, you may want to skip this. They do serve a purpose, more so than just being gratuitous images.
The art was beautifully done, and the story was interesting simply because I had no knowledge of it, but the writing was a bit on the slow and plodding side.
Thanks to @Netgalley, Europe Comics, and Yslaire, for the chance to read this arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
January 10, 2022
Die Rezension bezieht sich auf die Ausgabe des Splitter Verlags.
Seit vielen Jahren verschlinge ich Bücher, und ich kann in Hinblick auf die Plots sagen, dass ich schon fast alles gelesen habe. Jedoch war kaum eine Geschichte so anspruchsvoll wie diese hier. Das mag unter anderem daran liegen, dass hier viele Elemente miteinander verknüpft wurden, die für sich allein schon recht komplex ausgearbeitet wurden. Soll heißen: Hier treffen Poesie, Lyrik, Sexismus, Rassismus, Historik und Romantik aufeinander. Was das Werk zugegebenermaßen zu einer Lektüre macht, die nicht leicht zu lesen ist. Andererseits: Wann bekommt man schon mal die Gelegenheit, sich ausgiebig mit seinem Lesestoff auseinanderzusetzen? Tatsächlich nämlich habe ich hierfür einige Stündchen gebraucht. Exklusive der Rezension. Also sitze ich nun hier und überlege, mit welchen Worten ich dem Buch gerecht werden kann...
Vielleicht versuche ich es mal rückwärts (den Rezensionsaufbau betreffend) und verrate euch schon mal, dass mir die Story richtig gut gefallen hat. So schnell wird mein Gedächtnis sie nicht ad acta legen.
Per Retroperspektive und aus Sicht von Jeanne Duval wird erzählt, wie die Muse einst auf den Dichter Charles Baudelaire traf und welche weitreichenden Konsequenzen dieses Aufeinandertreffen für beide hatte. Dabei wird man als Leser durch die verschiedensten Stadien einer toxischen Beziehung manövriert und blickt auf eigene, vielleicht sogar ähnliche, Erfahrungen zurück.
Nun haben wir mit den beiden Hauptprotagonisten zwei grundsätzlich differenzierte Charaktere, die im ersten Moment nicht viel gemein haben. Man kommt nicht umhin, sich zu fragen, wo da eigentlich sprichwörtlich die Liebe hingefallen ist. Während Baudelaire der zurückhaltende, introvertierte Typ ist, der sich mit seiner freischaffenden Kunst abquält, wirkt Jeanne offensiv, taff und insgesamt (gedanklich) sortierter. Zwar hat es mich gewundert, dass sie sich rassistische und sexistische Bemerkungen von anderen gefallen ließ, weil das meiner Meinung nach entgegen ihrer Natur ist, aber ich schiebe es der damaligen Zeit in die Schuhe, in der es Frauen (vor allem niederen Ranges) schlichtweg untersagt war, die Stimme zu erheben, wenn sie nicht darum gebeten wurden. Das Geplänkel der beiden Figuren mündete letztendlich in einem tragisch-romantischen und oft zermürbenden Theaterspiel, an dessen Ende man sich fragt, ob die eine oder andere Situation, die gravierende Ausmaße annahm, nicht hätte verhindert werden können. Und was gewesen wäre, hätte eben jenes schicksalhafte Aufeinandertreffen nicht stattgefunden. Hätte Baudelaire eine andere Muse geküsst? Wäre er nicht seinem eigenen Wahnsinn und verqueren Denken ausgeliefert gewesen? Stünde Jeanne Duval unterm Strich besser oder schlechter da? Und was macht so eine Hassliebe eigentlich mit der Seele eines Menschen? Ihr merkt schon: Man kann sich hier über alles Mögliche seine Gedanken machen.
Das an das 19. Jahrhundert angelehnte Artwork passt hervorragend zur Geschichte und vermittelt ein Gefühl der damaligen Zeit. Einige Illustrationen haben mich ob ihrer Tiefe sehr (positiv) überrascht, wiederum andere hatte ich so nicht erwartet, weswegen mir hier und da die Kinnlade heruntergeklappt ist. Müsst ihr euch ansehen!
Fazit: Eine recht anspruchsvolle Lektüre mit großartigen, teilweise herrlich provokanten Illustrationen, die jeden Blick wert ist. Kann man sich immer wieder zu Gemüte führen und genießen.
Seit vielen Jahren verschlinge ich Bücher, und ich kann in Hinblick auf die Plots sagen, dass ich schon fast alles gelesen habe. Jedoch war kaum eine Geschichte so anspruchsvoll wie diese hier. Das mag unter anderem daran liegen, dass hier viele Elemente miteinander verknüpft wurden, die für sich allein schon recht komplex ausgearbeitet wurden. Soll heißen: Hier treffen Poesie, Lyrik, Sexismus, Rassismus, Historik und Romantik aufeinander. Was das Werk zugegebenermaßen zu einer Lektüre macht, die nicht leicht zu lesen ist. Andererseits: Wann bekommt man schon mal die Gelegenheit, sich ausgiebig mit seinem Lesestoff auseinanderzusetzen? Tatsächlich nämlich habe ich hierfür einige Stündchen gebraucht. Exklusive der Rezension. Also sitze ich nun hier und überlege, mit welchen Worten ich dem Buch gerecht werden kann...
Vielleicht versuche ich es mal rückwärts (den Rezensionsaufbau betreffend) und verrate euch schon mal, dass mir die Story richtig gut gefallen hat. So schnell wird mein Gedächtnis sie nicht ad acta legen.
Per Retroperspektive und aus Sicht von Jeanne Duval wird erzählt, wie die Muse einst auf den Dichter Charles Baudelaire traf und welche weitreichenden Konsequenzen dieses Aufeinandertreffen für beide hatte. Dabei wird man als Leser durch die verschiedensten Stadien einer toxischen Beziehung manövriert und blickt auf eigene, vielleicht sogar ähnliche, Erfahrungen zurück.
Nun haben wir mit den beiden Hauptprotagonisten zwei grundsätzlich differenzierte Charaktere, die im ersten Moment nicht viel gemein haben. Man kommt nicht umhin, sich zu fragen, wo da eigentlich sprichwörtlich die Liebe hingefallen ist. Während Baudelaire der zurückhaltende, introvertierte Typ ist, der sich mit seiner freischaffenden Kunst abquält, wirkt Jeanne offensiv, taff und insgesamt (gedanklich) sortierter. Zwar hat es mich gewundert, dass sie sich rassistische und sexistische Bemerkungen von anderen gefallen ließ, weil das meiner Meinung nach entgegen ihrer Natur ist, aber ich schiebe es der damaligen Zeit in die Schuhe, in der es Frauen (vor allem niederen Ranges) schlichtweg untersagt war, die Stimme zu erheben, wenn sie nicht darum gebeten wurden. Das Geplänkel der beiden Figuren mündete letztendlich in einem tragisch-romantischen und oft zermürbenden Theaterspiel, an dessen Ende man sich fragt, ob die eine oder andere Situation, die gravierende Ausmaße annahm, nicht hätte verhindert werden können. Und was gewesen wäre, hätte eben jenes schicksalhafte Aufeinandertreffen nicht stattgefunden. Hätte Baudelaire eine andere Muse geküsst? Wäre er nicht seinem eigenen Wahnsinn und verqueren Denken ausgeliefert gewesen? Stünde Jeanne Duval unterm Strich besser oder schlechter da? Und was macht so eine Hassliebe eigentlich mit der Seele eines Menschen? Ihr merkt schon: Man kann sich hier über alles Mögliche seine Gedanken machen.
Das an das 19. Jahrhundert angelehnte Artwork passt hervorragend zur Geschichte und vermittelt ein Gefühl der damaligen Zeit. Einige Illustrationen haben mich ob ihrer Tiefe sehr (positiv) überrascht, wiederum andere hatte ich so nicht erwartet, weswegen mir hier und da die Kinnlade heruntergeklappt ist. Müsst ihr euch ansehen!
Fazit: Eine recht anspruchsvolle Lektüre mit großartigen, teilweise herrlich provokanten Illustrationen, die jeden Blick wert ist. Kann man sich immer wieder zu Gemüte führen und genießen.
January 24, 2023
In zijn essay ‘De schilder van het moderne leven” introduceerde Baudelaire de ‘Flâneur’. “De menigte is zijn element, datgene wat de lucht voor vogels is en het water voor vissen.” De flaneur nestelt zich in het hart van de menigte, te midden van eb en vloed van de beweging, midden in het vluchtige en het oneindige. Het is voor Baudelaire belangrijker om toeschouwer te zijn, opgaande in de menigte, dan zelf object van beschouwing te zijn. Je zou kunnen zeggen dat bij Baudelaire voor het eerst object en subject samenvallen. Baudelaire, de uitvinder van het moderne levensgevoel, het stadsleven. Met Les fleurs du mal bracht hij in 1857 in minutieus geconstrueerde sonnetten, de grote stad in de Europese poëzie binnen, met al wat die aan lelijks en verderfelijks in zich droeg. Hij verbond het hoge met het lage, het mooie en het lelijke, het goede met het kwade. Heel veel medeschrijvers schreven over hem, Proust, Verlaine, Zola, …
De gedichten van Baudelaire zijn gedrenkt in zwarte gal, spleen, het Grieks woord voor milt dat zwarte gal ofwel melancholos produceert. Te veel zwarte gal leidt tot melancholie, een ziekelijk temperament dat tot lusteloosheid en zwaarmoedigheid leidt. Het gevoel overgeleverd te zijn aan de Tijd. Het aan ‘spleen’ tegengestelde ‘ideaal’ is een tijdelijke ontsnapping uit dit ondraaglijke spleen naar een elders dat vergetelheid schenkt. Allerlei vervoermiddelen kunnen daarbij behulpzaam zijn, alcohol, hasjiesj, opium, maar vooral liefde. Vrouwen speelden bij Baudelaire een belangrijke rol in zijn leven. De ideale vrouw was voor hem de vrouw bij wie hij kon wegdromen. Het parfum en de weelderige haarpracht van zijn zwarte maîtresse Jeanne Duval. De geur van haar lichaam roept een droom op van een reis. En de ontsnapping naar elders gaat gemakkelijk over in een ontsnapping naar vroeger. Tijd en ruimte.
Juffrouw Baudelaire, Jeanne Duval, de muze van de dichter, de zwarte Venus. Yslaire wijdde een sensuele strip aan haar en de poëet. Blijkbaar figureerde Jeanne naast Baudelaire in Courbet zijn ‘Atelier van schilder’, maar werd ze overschilderd en kwam ze na jaren toch te voorschijn door de verkleuring van de chemische pigmenten.
June 13, 2023
A troubled history told with the help of amazing art, this book guides us through the life of one of the most influential French writers from the 19th century.
And while the book is definitely about Charles Baudelaire, it is really about his mistress, Jeanne Duval. She was his muse and his addiction as well, it seems. There is a sense of an unhealthy obsession, from his than hers really, that makes their relationship seem interesting, yet doomed. I really like how Yslaire chose to present the story as a letter written by Jeanne, to Charles' mother, after his death. Because it really let's the story go through their entire history, from the highs of the beginning, to the lows that many relationships encounter.
The best part about this book was easily the art. With it's harsh shadows, and interesting use of color, the book resonates from the page, giving the story a vibrancy all it's own. I especially liked how Yslaire draws the female figure - not shying from the realistic proportions that elevate and ground all at once. This is some of my favorite art regarding female bodies that I've seen lately. Fair warning for those who care about such things, there is quite a bit of nudity - and quite explicit at that.
The story itself can get bogged down in the details. The pace doesn't flow well at times, and sometimes the narrative can feel frivolous. But the book is saved by the art. So I would recommend this for anyone who is interested in 19th century Paris through the eyes of one of France's most acclaimed poets.
And while the book is definitely about Charles Baudelaire, it is really about his mistress, Jeanne Duval. She was his muse and his addiction as well, it seems. There is a sense of an unhealthy obsession, from his than hers really, that makes their relationship seem interesting, yet doomed. I really like how Yslaire chose to present the story as a letter written by Jeanne, to Charles' mother, after his death. Because it really let's the story go through their entire history, from the highs of the beginning, to the lows that many relationships encounter.
The best part about this book was easily the art. With it's harsh shadows, and interesting use of color, the book resonates from the page, giving the story a vibrancy all it's own. I especially liked how Yslaire draws the female figure - not shying from the realistic proportions that elevate and ground all at once. This is some of my favorite art regarding female bodies that I've seen lately. Fair warning for those who care about such things, there is quite a bit of nudity - and quite explicit at that.
The story itself can get bogged down in the details. The pace doesn't flow well at times, and sometimes the narrative can feel frivolous. But the book is saved by the art. So I would recommend this for anyone who is interested in 19th century Paris through the eyes of one of France's most acclaimed poets.
October 24, 2021
Well-intentioned story about Charles Baudelaire and his mistress, who in being a person of colour was someone to be frowned upon. Some of this is too, for it wants to use its (admittedly superlative) artistic craft to have a lascivious, exotic fantasy – and yet plods away, dropping the prologue with the fabulous beasts in its imagery, and the leads as gargoyle-type fallen angels, and chunters on about the children before she gives us a wordy monologue for her back-story. Certainly every page drips with wonderful art, but I don't think the fantasy fantasy side of things gels with the story she has to offer, despite the more wacky visions he has, and a lot of the sexual fantasy side is just as much a "phwoar look at the boobies on blackie!!" attitude it's trying to show as an archaic problem she suffered with. Also, much of his society life is really not interesting, so we're left with the fact that no book on this earth would fail to gain something from having art like this does.
January 24, 2023
A la suite des cahiers "préparatoires" Baudelaire, voici l’impressionnant résultat. Un chef-d’œuvre aux dessins oniriques et érotiques avec quelques pleines pages époustouflantes ! Avec une histoire qui a gagné en consistance et cohérence, un dessin qui a pris encore plus de force et de matière et des personnages plus incarnés et vivants dans une époque plus réaliste.
Un résultat beaucoup plus sexuel que les cahiers – en tout cas dans la première partie – pour terminer dans une sombre torpeur.
Une histoire racontée par Jeanne Duval, "Vénus noire" adorée et détestée, muse sulfureuse. Une passion violente ; sous le regard réprobateur de la mère de Charles, l’aigre Madame Aupick.
Et si quelques pages un peu moins folles ou une typo un peu lassante m’ont chagriné, cette Madame Baudelaire témoigne magnifiquement de la puissance d’un embrasement venimeux qui ne sut s’éteindre
https://www.noid.ch/mademoiselle-baud...
Un résultat beaucoup plus sexuel que les cahiers – en tout cas dans la première partie – pour terminer dans une sombre torpeur.
Une histoire racontée par Jeanne Duval, "Vénus noire" adorée et détestée, muse sulfureuse. Une passion violente ; sous le regard réprobateur de la mère de Charles, l’aigre Madame Aupick.
Et si quelques pages un peu moins folles ou une typo un peu lassante m’ont chagriné, cette Madame Baudelaire témoigne magnifiquement de la puissance d’un embrasement venimeux qui ne sut s’éteindre
https://www.noid.ch/mademoiselle-baud...
February 9, 2023
Une BD assez particulière. On y parle de Beaudelaire et de son amour "interdit".
C'est beau, intéressant, et j'avoue à peu près tout découvrir de la vie de cet auteur. Ça donne envie d'aller explorer ses œuvres (oui je n'ai toujours pas lu les Fleurs du Mal, que je suis censé aimer si j'en crois les différents retours et recommandations).
Yslaire a sa patte graphique. Du coup chaque planche est une œuvre, c'est magnifique.
Cette histoire oscille entre historico-érotico-romantico-porno-poétique …il y a un peu de tout pour tout le monde, c'est très ouvert, pas vraiment libertin mais rempli de liberté !
Vision romancée de la vie de l'auteur, vu par les yeux de l'amante elle-même.
Une BD qui surprend, qui s'admire, qui se laisse apprivoiser. Je suis sûr que plusieurs lectures peuvent être nécessaire, notamment si l'on veut aller plus loin dans l'œuvre de l'auteur pour revenir à cette BD par la suite. Pas une mauvaise idée.
C'est beau, intéressant, et j'avoue à peu près tout découvrir de la vie de cet auteur. Ça donne envie d'aller explorer ses œuvres (oui je n'ai toujours pas lu les Fleurs du Mal, que je suis censé aimer si j'en crois les différents retours et recommandations).
Yslaire a sa patte graphique. Du coup chaque planche est une œuvre, c'est magnifique.
Cette histoire oscille entre historico-érotico-romantico-porno-poétique …il y a un peu de tout pour tout le monde, c'est très ouvert, pas vraiment libertin mais rempli de liberté !
Vision romancée de la vie de l'auteur, vu par les yeux de l'amante elle-même.
Une BD qui surprend, qui s'admire, qui se laisse apprivoiser. Je suis sûr que plusieurs lectures peuvent être nécessaire, notamment si l'on veut aller plus loin dans l'œuvre de l'auteur pour revenir à cette BD par la suite. Pas une mauvaise idée.
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February 27, 2024La vie intime de Charles Baudelaire nous est cont�e par "Mademoiselle Baudelaire". Yslaire nous propose une biographie originale � travers le regard de la muse du po�te, sa V�nus Noire, en nous offrant sa vision d'artiste.Les illustrations sont dans la veine des travaux d'Yslaire : travaill�s, sombres, oniriques , les traits des personnages sont marqu�s et expressifs. L'album m�le diff�rents formats de planches (bandes dessin�es, r�cit illustr�, dessins pleines pages, textes en images...). Les textes sont simples et directs, tout comme les illustrations, plus ou moins sensuelles voire os�es (lubrique ?) et sans fard.Malheureusement, j'ai trouv� l'ensemble de l'album plut�t terne, que ce soit au niveau visuel ou textuel. Les textes pr�sentent quelques longueurs qui m'ont parfois ennuy�e et ni les couleurs ni les dessins n'ont pas r�ussi � contre-balancer cette impression pour retenir mon attention.Pour �couter Yslaire au sujet de ce titre : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji9Pd...
June 18, 2021
Il était inévitable que l’auteur de Sambre, Bidouille et Violette et xxe ciel finisse par aborder Baudelaire. L’oeuvre d’Yslaire était déjà pleine du spleen baudelairien, de son romantisme noir, de son réalisme poétique, comme on sentait aussi la présence de Delacroix. Mais il y a aussi ici Mademoiselle Baudelaire, muse, aussi maudite que le poëte, miroir féminin, souffre-douleur. Une tranche de vie qui va bien à l’auteur
July 23, 2022
Wat ben ik opnieuw onder de indruk van dit laatste werk van Bernard Hislaire, iemand wiens output ik al 40 jaar bewonder... Schaam op mij dat ik deze parel een jaar heb laten chambreren. Deze keer maak ik het mezelf gemakkelijk en verwijs ik door naar de recensie van De Stripspeciaalzaak, waarin de eerbiedwaardige recensent van dienst mijn waardering perfect verwoordt.
https://www.stripspeciaalzaak.be/besp...
March 8, 2024
This book is absolutely gorgeous, the art is captivating and enthralling drawing you in. It is honestly what kept me engaged enough to keep going. But the narrative writing for this was abysmal it drug on and on, to the point it honestly became a detriment overall. I would have honestly probably enjoyed it more overall if I'd just gone through just taking in the art then trying to process the writing. Which is disappointing.
August 22, 2021
Magnifique livre : le dessin est grandiose de poésie même dans l'imagerie utilisée pour dépeindre des scènes très crues.
Je ne mets pas 5 étoiles car certains passages de narration m'ont un peu ennuyé (la partie sur l'engagement politique de Baudelaire ne me paraît pas nécessaire dans l'axe choisi) mais c'était une très belle lecture que je recommande aux lecteurs et lectrices de Baudelaire.
Je ne mets pas 5 étoiles car certains passages de narration m'ont un peu ennuyé (la partie sur l'engagement politique de Baudelaire ne me paraît pas nécessaire dans l'axe choisi) mais c'était une très belle lecture que je recommande aux lecteurs et lectrices de Baudelaire.
January 3, 2022
Ce roman graphique est un réel bijou. Des images d’une beauté époustouflante. Un beau travail.
J’aime l’idée de m’attarder sur Jeanne Duval, de mettre en avant le rôle de Muse. Mais si le début de l’histoire intrigue et accroche, j’ai eu du mal à m’accrocher jusqu’à la fin.
J’aime l’idée de m’attarder sur Jeanne Duval, de mettre en avant le rôle de Muse. Mais si le début de l’histoire intrigue et accroche, j’ai eu du mal à m’accrocher jusqu’à la fin.
June 26, 2022
Le sujet est intéressant (la vie de Jeanne, la "vénus noire" muse de Baudelaire) mais je n'ai accroché plus que ça ni sur la narration de l'histoire ni sur les dessins, mais il y a une atmosphère et un beau travail néanmoins.
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