Jean Guerreschi's 'Autres seins' Explores Breast Mythology

Jean Guerreschi's second book, 'Autres seins,' published by Gallimard, continues his poetic and erudite exploration of breasts, which he calls 'jumelles muettes' (mute twins). The work comprises sixty-four short chapters that blend reminiscences, reveries, and reflections, creating a mythology of the breast. Guerreschi draws on literary predecessors such as Clément Marot's 1535 poem 'Du beau Tétin' and Ramón Gómez de la Serna's 1917 book 'Seins.' The book covers breasts associated with places (like the Quai des Grands-Augustins or a train), people (a baker, Jeanne d'Arc, Sophie Calle), and thinkers (Paul Valéry, Merleau-Ponty, Althusser). It includes humorous episodes (a satellite mammography story) and poignant accounts (clandestine photos from Birkenau). Guerreschi discusses the ideal breast equation, left- vs. right-breastedness, and highlights Jean Fouquet's 1455 painting 'Virgin of Melun' as the quintessential breast representation, where the Virgin (modeled by Agnès Sorel) uses her left breast to nurse Jesus, subverting religious iconography. The author also celebrates other female body parts, referencing Jacques Henric's 'Adorations perpétuelles.'