Avant-Garde FAscism FAscism Avant-Garde The Mobilization of Myth, Art, and Culture in France, 1909–1939 Mark antliff Duke University Press Durham and London 2007 © 2007 Duke University Press All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper ♾ Designed by Heather Hensley Typeset in Minion Pro by Tseng Information Systems, Inc. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data appear on the last printed page of this book. Duke University Press gratefully acknowledges the support of the Department of Art and Art History at Duke University, which provided funds toward the production of this book. for Patricia leighten, on our unfolding journey together cONTENTs ix List of Illustrations xiii Acknowledgments 1 Introduction 17 chapter 1 Fascism, Modernism, and Modernity 63 chapter 2 The Jew as Anti-Artist: Georges Sorel and the Aesthetics of the Anti-Enlightenment 111 chapter 3 La Cité Française: Georges Valois, Le Corbusier, and Fascist Theories of Urbanism 155 chapter 4 Machine Primitives: Philippe Lamour and the Fascist Cult of Youth 203 chapter 5 Classical Violence: Thierry Maulnier and the Legacy of the Cercle Proudhon 247 Conclusion 255 Notes 323 Bibliography 345 Index LisT OF iLLusTrATiONs 1. Jean Guiet, Georges Sorel. 3 2. Oskar Martin-Amorbach, The Sower. 27 3. Mario Sironi, Urban Landscape. 31 4. Esoda Pratelli, with Luigi Freddi, Room A. Exhibition of the Fascist Revolution, Rome, 1932. 35 5. Giuseppi Terragni, Casa del Fascio, Como. 40 6. Adalberto Libera and Antonio Valente, Room U. Exhibition of the Fascist Revolution, Rome, 1932. 41 7. Ardengo Soffici, Procession. 45 8. Roger Chapelin-Midy, The Grape Harvest. 46 9. Emil Nolde, Nudes and Eunuch. 48 10. Farmhouse with loggia, near Gandino, Val Seriana. 52 11. Mussolini as skier at Terminillo, near Rome. 55 12. Ferdinand Staeger, We Are the Work Soldiers. 58 13. Hans Liska, Drawing of Josef Thorak’s studio. 59 14. Ignacio Zuloaga y Zabaleta, Portrait of Maurice Barrès with Toledo in the Background. 86 15. El Greco, Burial of Count Orgaz. 86 16. Ignazio Zuloaga y Zabaleta, Portrait of Elémir Bourges, author. 87