Jacqui Kane
Megan Grigorian
Natalie Barney’s Salon Study Guide
Early Life of Barney
Barney was born in Ohio to a very wealthy family, who had a very influential position in the arts.
She had a close relationship with her mother, who was a painter and musician. Her mother
facilitated her creativity as a child, giving her strength to pursue a life in the arts. She did not
have extensive education, but did attend a boarding school in France, where she learned the
language perfectly and settled in Paris indefinitely.
Barney’s Relationships
Barney was a lesbian who was known for having several relationships at one time. She valued
her friendships more so then anything, which is one of the reasons the salon was such a success.)
She did not like monogamous relationships and found it difficult to stay committed to one
person. Her most significant relationship was with Romaine Brooks. An American painter,
Brooks painted several portraits of her and Barney, along with some friends of the salon. They
were together for over 50 years, but Brooks always wanted to be monogamous and did not enjoy
city life or the salon as much as Barney.
Life as a Writer
Barney said she was to undisciplined to be a writer by vocation. She published several novels,
all of which are written in French, but biographers credit her to being a brilliant epigram writer.
Barney said her inspiration and the wit she effectively used in her epigrams came to her in
everyday conversation. She also published three volumes of memoirs that documents her literary
friendships she cultivated at the salon called Aventures de l’esprit. She died at 95 years old.
Pre-Salon
In the early 1900s, Natalie lived in Neuilly and hosted small, informal social gatherings.
However, her landlord did not approve of her affinity with Sappho and Natalie felt the need to
find somewhere more open and accepting.
The Salon
In 1909, Natalie Barney moved to 20 Rue Jacob in Paris’s Latin Quarter. Immediately after
moving in and continuing until her death, Natalie established herself as a prominent figure in the
creative world by hosting large gatherings every Friday night and promoted intellectual pursuits;
as well as feminine pursuits. Many of the guests were well-known for their creative and
intellectual accomplishments; some of these guests included Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, William
Carlos Williams, Peggy Guggenheim, Sylvia Beach, Gertrude Stein, Mina Loy, Renee Vivien,
and even an appearance by the Mata Hari herself. Adjoined to the property was the Doric
‘Temple of Friendship’ which was dedicated to her friends and was usually the stage for
performances and liaisons. During World War I, Natalie’s home became a refuge for artists
opposed to the war. Furthermore, she hosted the “Women’s Congress for Peace” at her home. In
1927, Natalie created the Women’s Academy, or Académie des Femme, which was a reaction to
the French Academy. This academy encouraged and supported female writers; while the
academy was not formal it did consist of readings at the salon. The salon’s cultural importance
stemmed from the artists/intellectuals who socialized, exchanged ideas, could find inspiration,
received or gave advice, and overall were able to enjoy themselves.
Legacy of the Salon
The confirmation of the salon’s (Natalie’s) influence could be seen in the work being produced
throughout the time of the salon’s existence. Some examples of this are Colette’s Claudine and
Annie, Renee Vivien’s poetry and novel A Woman Appeared to Me, Djuana Barnes’ Ladies
Almanack, as well as male writers Remy de Gourmont and Truman Capote. Even writers who
came after the salon’s time were influenced by her; these writers are Francesco Rapazzini and
Anna Livia. In 1979, Judy Chicago honored Natalie in her feminist collection “The Dinner
Party.”
“the freedom of expression that was offered by Barney's salon and embodied in her life"
(Chicago, The Dinner Party, 147).
References
http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/place_settings/natalie_barney
.php
http://kaykeys.net/passions/nataliebarney/20ruejacob.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Clifford_Barney#Salon
Chalon, Jean. Portrait of a Seductress. New York: Crown Publisher’s Inc, 1976.
Wickes, George. The Life and Loves of Natalie Barney. New York: G.P. Putnam’s
Sons, 1977.