Tuesdays, May 5 – May 26, 4 – 6pm
Left: Franz von Stuck. The Sin (detail), 1893. Neue Pinakothek, Munich. Public Domain. Right: Detail of original cover of Killer Take All! (1957) by James O. Causey. Fleet Library, Rhode Island School of Design. Gift of Richard N. Hurley. Public Domain.
$220; members $198
(4 classes)
About the Class
This course explores the femme fatale, an age-old stock character known for her mysterious and dangerous allure. From biblical seductresses like Judith and Salome to the cinematic vamps in Double Indemnity and Fatal Attraction, the femme fatale has long been a vessel for cultural anxieties surrounding gender, power, sexuality, and morality. Through an interdisciplinary study of art, film, television, and other visual media, this course will trace the femme fatale’s transformations across historical periods in Europe and the US, beginning in Belle Epoque Paris and moving into our contemporary moment. Critical frameworks from feminist theory will guide discussions on topics such as the male gaze, agency, and the intersection of desire and danger.
The class is online-only. More about online classes.
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Barnes classes will:
- Sharpen your observational and critical thinking skills.
- Improve your ability to communicate about art.
- Deepen your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own.
Franz von Stuck. The Sin, 1893. Neue Pinakothek, Munich. Public Domain.
Original cover of Killer Take All! (1957) by James O. Causey. Fleet Library, Rhode Island School of Design. Gift of Richard N. Hurley. Public Domain.
Instructor
Martha Lucy
Lucy is the deputy director for research, interpretation and education at the Barnes. As an art historian, she specializes in modern European art and visual culture. She is the coauthor of Renoir in the Barnes Foundation and has published articles and essays on topics ranging from the early charcoals of Odilon Redon to contemporary installation art.
What Our Students Say
“The instructor is a gifted individual who is able to [engage] with all different kinds of learners and motivate us to want to learn more, see more, and experience more. I would highly recommend any course by this instructor.” —Collection Concentration: Medieval Modern with Kaelin Jewell
“Martha Lucy knows how to balance her lecture with fact, excellent painting selections, and inclusion of the students.” —The Art and Life of Toulouse-Lautrec with Martha Lucy
“The best class to understand the elements of art. The instructor’s expertise and warmth, along with the excellent discussions with my classmates, made it a truly wonderful experience.” —The Elements of Art with William Perthes
“This class offered rich insight into Picasso and his contemporaries—the gallery scene, turn-of-the-century politics, Catalan culture, along with Picasso’s approach to composition and contemporary European culture. It was so informative.” —Picasso in Focus: New Discoveries at the Barnes with Christine Romano and Naina Saligram
“Caterina loves the material she presents and infuses all her classes—of which I have taken many—with that infectious enthusiasm.” —Rendez-vous au Café: Café Culture in 19th-Century Art with Caterina Pierre
Go Further
Close-Looking Immersion: Cézanne’s Portrait of a Woman
Spend an hour with Cézanne’s haunting Portrait of a Woman. Instructor: William Perthes
Surrealism, Then and Now
Revisit the movement’s origin and global expansion and consider its legacy today. Instructor: Naina Saligram
Caravaggio: Revolutionary Painter of the Roman Baroque
Learn how Caravaggio rejected classical idealism for raw naturalism, fueling works with psychological intensity. Instructor: James Harper