The artwork titled “The Doll (Maquette for The Doll’s Games)” was created by Hans Bellmer in the year 1938. This piece belongs to the genre of photography and represents a stage in Bellmer’s exploration of the doll motif, a central theme in his oeuvre.
The artwork portrays what appears to be a life-sized doll, reminiscent of a human figure, which has been disassembled and arranged in a manner that defies the natural human anatomy. The composition features various doll parts, including limbs and spherical joint elements, scattered in a somewhat chaotic yet deliberate fashion. The doll’s components are a pale pink hue, suggesting flesh, and show signs of wear or distress, adding to the unsettling nature of the piece.
A green leafy element appears to be placed near the doll, providing a stark contrast in color and texture to the otherwise smooth and pallid surfaces of the doll parts. In the background, we see a white fabric with lace details, which might suggest a bed or a domestic setting. The juxtaposition of the innocuous, domestic background with the fragmented doll creates a sense of tension and unease.
Hans Bellmer’s work with the doll is often interpreted through a psychoanalytical lens, addressing themes of the unconscious, desire, and the human body, as well as a reaction to the political climate of his time. This artwork, with its manipulation of the human form and charged psychological atmosphere, can be seen as a statement on the disruption of identity and the exploration of the human psyche.
