Romantique [Hardcover]

Elephant & Mouse Editions (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2001

The erotic art of times past is sometimes the most captivating. ROMANTIQUE offers a veritable banquet of early nineteenth century erotic prints and lithographs, culled from the renowned private collection of rare and beautiful erotica amassed by Hans-Jurgen Dopp.

In both black and white and brilliant color, these lithographs explicitly present the full spectrum of human sexuality. Solos, two-ways, three-ways, four-ways - even the "Noble Orgy" - are joyously reprinted in ROMANTIQUE. But the high artistic quality and aesthetic appeal of these images make them unusual as well as sensual. A mood of delight and humor suffuses these prints. All are showcased in a book of stunningly handsome quality.

ROMANTIQUE is interesting as cultural history as well, as this collection sheds a powerful, important and delirously unabashed light on erotic desire in early nineteenth century bourgeois France. Here are aristocrats and ladies, shepherds and shepherdesses, nuns and lesbians - all romp through these pages satisfying themselves in ballrooms and bedrooms, on riverbanks and in convents, oblivious of conventional morality and the watchful gaze.

11' x 12", 224 pp., over 200 prints and lithographs

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Elephant & Mouse Editions is a new line of illustrated books that shares a strong graphic orientation and the highest production values, with subjects ranging from traditional design to classic erotica, for artists, graphic designers, other members of the art and design trade, and anyone who loves beautiful illustrated books.

About the Author

Hans-Jurgen Dopp was born in 1940, studied sociology and pedagogy, and currently teaches in Frankfurt, Germany. His important collection of erotic art has been built up over many years by drawing upon sources in various European countries.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Elephant & Mouse Editions (September 1, 2001)
• ISBN-10: 1590200004
• ISBN-13: 978-1590200001
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,174,384 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Pictures of Bourgeois Pleasure, January 26, 2002

By 

R. Hardy "Rob Hardy" (Columbus, Mississippi USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Romantique (Hardcover)

Erotic lithographs from France form the content of a spectacular, large, and well-produced book _Romantique: Erotic Art of the Early Nineteenth Century_ (Elephant & Mouse Editions). The selections here come from Hans-Jurgen Döpp, who is apparently a famed collector of such things: "His important collection of erotic art has been built up over many years by drawing upon sources in various European countries." As in most such collections of erotic art, here are introductory chapters to put the art into context and explain its importance, and as such essays go, the ones included here are just fine. But the "reader" always wonders if the words are just there as justification for the shameful pleasures indulged in by the "viewer."

The charm of the pictures in this book (and they are charming) is that they were made to appeal to the bourgeoisie who would be buying them by depicting just their sort of people in familiar settings. There are some rather silly historical pictures here; in one a knight in a suit of armor (well, not the entire suit, just the coat without the pants, so as not to impede the nether regions) raises his glass while fondling his girlie as she fondles him. For the most part, however, these are contemporaries, showing off the best style of their times. They are dressed in clothes that are similar to those more familiarly shown in period fashion books. Oh, they do remain dressed, most of them. The women lower their blouses to show fashionably small breasts and button aureoles, or raise their dresses just so to show what we would now regard as buns of less than steel. The men may have their trousers off or down, but generally their priapic displays of eagerness are available for the delight of the ladies involved by means of unbuttoned but undoffed breeches. Everything is pretty in these rather romantic pictures, which are divided into sections for soloists, duets, trios, quartets, and "the noble orgy."

This is a delightful book of pretty pictures. Anyone who likes looking at erotic couplings will enjoy it, and those who need a "proper" reason to do so can always claim they are looking at history, and their enjoyment will be undimmed.