Archetypal Gesture and Everyday Gesture: a fundamental binomial in Delsartean theory

Abstract

This text presents François Delsarte’s system from a historical-exploratory viewpoint, focusing on some particular aspects of the work of the French master and the interpretation of his work by some of his main disciples. The article describes the status of the body and its importance in the Delsarte system, taking the notions of archetypal gesture and everyday gesture as the bases of this system. Indeed, the text highlights both historical facts obtained from the Delsarte archive, and arguments questioning the authorship of exercises attributed to Delsarte, which, according to the text, may have been created by his students.

Keywords

• François Delsarte
• Gesture
• Performing Arts
• History of Dance
• History of Theatre