Camille Claudel…a queer love story?
Camille Claudel is most widely known for her connection to Auguste Rodin — she was Rodin’s student, she was Rodin’s mistress, she was the love of Rodin’s life. When you do historical research, you peel away layers to reveal hidden details. Sometimes the deeper you dig, the closer you get to the truth.
As I got further into my research of Camille, I discovered Florence Jeans. Florence was a friend of Camille’s schoolmate, Jessie. Camille met Florence when she went to England with Jessie for a summer. Camille and Florence struck up a close friendship that continued for years through letters and subsequent visits.
When I read the letters from Camille to Florence, it was clear to me that these women were more than just friends…
“When I left on Saturday, I felt a horrible void. I saw you everywhere: impossible for me to get used to the idea that we were apart…”
Maybe you’d write that to a dear friend. But this?
“I hope that you will think of me, as we agreed, on the first of each month at 8pm. We will remember our little evening walk with the moon and the little boats so dark on the sea.”
Classic young love! And the sign off…
“Affectionate kisses, Camille”
Years later Florence got married, and Camille wrote this…
“Don’t fear anything for your letters. I have burnt them one by one and I hope you will do the same with mine.”
Clearly Florence did not burn the letters or at least not all of them. Camille’s letters to Florence are unlike letters she wrote to anyone else, including Rodin. The letters to Florence are personal and intimate, while Camille’s letters to Rodin are businesslike.
I was shocked that none of the historians seemed to suggest or even ponder as a possibility that Camille and Florence might have been lovers. While we will never know for sure what happened behind closed doors or what was in the heart and mind of Camille, it seems clear to me that Camille’s relationship with Rodin was a means to an end and Camille’s relationship with Florence was love.
When I embarked on this project, I knew that we were telling the story of a woman who was mostly erased from history. I discovered that Camille’s story also has all the hallmarks of queer erasure from history. It has been extremely meaningful for our ensemble to give voice and embodiment to this beautiful love story.