Four centuries ago, the ideal female form was far from the slender figures often celebrated today. A fuller physique was not only acceptable but actively pursued, reflecting a stark contrast to modern beauty standards. This historical perspective is explored in Erin Maglaque's new book, "Presence: A Hidden History of the Female Body."
In the early modern period, slender figures were often associated with illness, malnutrition, or old age. Conversely, being "nicely rounded" was aspirational. Historical accounts suggest that in 17th-century Venice, brides were fattened with sweets to appear plump by their wedding day. By the late 18th century in London, the trend had escalated to the point where upper-class women used padding, such as false hips and bottoms made of cork, to achieve a fuller silhouette. A brief fad in 1793 even saw women adopting outwardly protruding stomachs, achieved by stuffing rolls under their dresses to emphasize a fashionable fullness.
Beyond aesthetics, Maglaque's research delves into various aspects of women's lives and bodies. The book examines practices like breastfeeding, noting that male doctors of the era were largely unconcerned by the "pleasurable titillation" some women experienced, even to the point of orgasm, while nursing. It also sheds light on sleep patterns, revealing that the night was often divided into two distinct periods. The first sleep would conclude around midnight, after which individuals would wake to pray, eat a snack, and perform household tasks, including brewing beer, before returning to sleep until dawn.
Maglaque, a university historian, distinguishes "Presence" by integrating her personal experiences of pregnancy, birth, desire, and insomnia with her academic research. This approach aims to create a more intimate connection with the lives of women from 400 years ago, bridging the gap between the distant past and contemporary understanding. The book demonstrates how personal narrative, when carefully interwoven with historical scholarship, can illuminate forgotten ways of living, revealing them as both surprisingly familiar and profoundly strange.