Conférence : Natacha Fabbri, « Female Figures on the Moon: Intertwining Science, Philosophy and Literature », Rome, Bibliotheca Hertziana, 7 novembre 2024

In this lecture, Natacha Fabbri will introduce her recent work on the multifaceted relationship between women and the Moon in Western culture from the 16th to the 19th century. The talk will discuss the pioneering women who studied, described, and depicted the Earth’s satellites, as well as the role that the new image of the Moon played in the debate on the querelle des femmes, serving as a tool to challenge prejudicial readings. The presentation will delve into scientific, philosophical, and literary works that influenced the interpretations of the relationship between women and the Moon, focusing on the contributions of female astronomers, writers, and painters in shaping the idea of “another Earth in the sky”. This will include an examination of female lunar figures in scientific writings, celestial maps, public spaces, as well as in landscapes of hope and images of desire (Bloch’s Wunschbilder) found in theatrical productions, utopian writings and various models of popular astronomy.