Limites physiques dans le monde du rêve chez Théophile Gautier
Physical Limits in Théophile Gautier’s Dream World

Summary/Abstract: The poetics developed by Théophile Gautier in his short stories entails an artistic reconfiguration of the world of the dream, which is traditionally conceived as a boundless space. The physical reconstruction of the oneiric universe is made pos- sible by the artistic perception of reality, namely by one essential element of any artistic endeavour, which Romanian aesthetician Tudor Vianu calls isolation. In Théophile Gautier’s view, the dreamer needs to assert the existence of his personal space, by sometimes renouncing any signs of life and mobility, in order to give a more artificial dimension to the reality of his dream. Thus, the limit itself acquires a highly concrete and physical dimension, and the access to the territory of the dream is carefully prepared, while the borders are marked by immediately percepti- ble signs. This is what makes the dream a distinctive element in Gautier’s writings, highlighting the outstanding plasticity of his images (despite their occasional ba- nality) as well as the alternation of closings and openings. The attention bestowed on form and clear hues, viewed as a hallmark of civilization, joins, every now and then, a culturally determined horrible reality.

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