Apollinaire, Poetry, and Fashion

Abstract

Conceived as a satirical poem in the best French tradition, “1909” contrasts a beautiful woman dressed in the latest fashion with the “atrocious women” who work in factories. That Apollinaire finds the latter more appealing has important ramifications for modern poetry. The present article examines the previous studies, synthesizes their findings, and analyzes the poem in detail.

Keywords:

• Apollinaire
• beauty
• fashion
• machinery
• modernity

Notes

¹For a brief analysis, see Bohn, Apollinaire on the Edge 71–72.

²J. G. Clark suggests “1909” is modeled on Théophile Gautier's “Ballade II,” but again the resemblance is slight (40).

³Jean-Charles Gateau points out that the title can also be pronounced “dis neuf, sang neuf” and “dits neufs, sang neuf” (130).

⁴See Apollinaire, Alcools, tr. Revell, 147; Alcools: Poems 1898–1913, tr. Meredith, 203; Alcools, tr. Greet, 185.

⁵See Apollinaire, Alcools, tr. Rees, 173.