La construcción del ideal de belleza en Freud.Viajes y encuentros decisivos en torno a Italia (1895-1913)

Abstract

As far as we are aware, Freud visited Italy ten times from 1895 to 1913, duringh is summer holidays. Through winter season, after taking care of his patients, he would read and deeply research about Italian art and culture. According to his own words, the Viennese master described those trips a “source of joy and physical well-being”, although he also considered them as trips to reflect and study. Those years were essential for maturing some major metapsychological subjects such as sexuality, sense of guilt or the importance of fantasy, that would culminate in his formulation of the “ideal of self/narcissism” and its relation with the “ideal of beauty”. Three fundamental stages around the evolution of the Freudian beauty concept are outlined in the present work: an initial stage that runs until 1910, based on the works of Italian painters such as Moretto, Titian or Raphael. The feminine archetype of asexual mother (Madonna) represents an ideal of beauty based on virginity. Related to this ideal, Freud refers to clinical matters such as guilt and hysterical symptom. An intermediate stage (1910-1913) is focused on Leonardo da Vinci. The ideal of beauty is now placed beyond differentiation of sexes. “Leonardo smile” would refer us to conciliation of bisexuality. Third and final stage (1913-1914) is focused on the works of Miquelangelo, in particular to his Moses...