« Le Roi-grenouille ou Henri-de-Fer»: désexualisation (?) et illustrations artistiques contemporaines

Abstract

Ever since the first publication of the fairy tale « The Frog Prince » in the collection « Kinder- und Hausmärchen » in the 19th century, people have resented the erotic dimension of the tale, starting with the fountain scene, the place of transition and promise. Here, we oscillate between « désexualisation » and « re-sexualisation », not only of the text, but also of its representation. How have contemporary artists dealt with this eroticism, fixed in the fairy tale itself? Over time, they have found their very own means of interpretation.
Keywords: Fairy tales, Brother Grimm, The frog prince, « Désexualisation », Contemporary art