Amazon Figure Explored in Inaugural Exhibition at Arles Fashion Museum

The Musée de la Mode et du Costume in Arles presents 'Amazones! Cavalières et icônes de mode', the first exhibition dedicated to the amazon figure across five centuries. Curated by director Clément Trouche and scholar Valerio Zanetti, the show brings together over 100 works—including fashion prints, saddles, equestrian portraits, riding costumes, and contemporary creations—from more than 36 lenders such as the Musée d'Orsay, the Château de Chantilly, and Hermès. The exhibition challenges the persistent myth that amazons cut off a breast, tracing a misinterpretation to ancient Greek sources. Instead, it presents the amazon as a symbol of physical and political freedom, from 17th-century court women riding astride in masculine-inspired attire to French Revolutionaries demanding citizenship. Key artifacts include a saddle made for Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais (a left-handed rider), a safety skirt that democratized riding in the 19th century, and a Jean Paul Gaultier ensemble for Hermès (2004 haute couture collection). The exhibition also highlights Camargue traditions through the story of Fanfonne Guillierme, the first female manadière, and a video installation by artists Pierre & Florent. On view from May 22 to September 20, 2026.