Arch of Hysteria by Louise Bourgeois

Louise Bourgeois (1911-present)  was born in Paris, France in 1911. She studied painting at the Ecole du Loure and at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts.  She moved to New York City in 1938 with her husband Robert Goldwater.  She continued her interest in art at the Art Students League of New York.   She still lives in New York.  Her most famous piece is the Maman, which is a 30 foot tall spider cast in bronze(Wikipedia).  The Arch of Hysteria is based on the French neurologist Jean Martin Charcot’s theory of hysteria.  Charcot based his hereditary origin of hysteria on his documented studies with female patients(Charcot 32) .  Charcot described hysteria as combination of physical tension, immobility of the limbs, and an extreme emotional state(Charcot 32) .  It was associated with females.   For Arch of Hysteria, Bourgeois chose a male figure instead of a female to counter the misconception.  An item that counters traditional thinking is a necessary piece and should be acquired.

Excerpt of Jean Martin Charot's Study