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Artistic Creation

This burlesque film fantasy has striking sexual overtones - and a surprising feminist twist

Trick film 1901 2 mins Silent

Overview

Man creates woman in his magic drawing, but as she is liberated from her frame prison she starts to demand more. Walter Booth was 'lightning sketch' artist and maker of 'trick' films for Robert Paul. In this somewhat proto-feminist film (presumably inspired by the Greek legend of Pygmalion) his artist character draws a young woman, who magically comes to life... in sections. Each time she asks for further body parts until she is complete. But, understandably, she flees the moment he offers her the unwanted 'gift' of a baby.