Bodily Illness and Care in Charlotte Abramow’s Surrealistic Maurice: tristesse et rigolade (2018)

This article examines the photobook Maurice: tristesse et rigolade (2018) by Belgian photographer Charlotte Abramow, a personal project that stages her father’s journey through cancer, remission, coma and neurological after-effects. In the project, Abramow employs surrealist tropes to depict how her father’s illness reshaped his identity, exploring the space between the physical and mental selves. The article demonstrates how her approach, distinctly grounded in care, shifts focus from the personal female self to the familiar “father other”, adopting a platonic lens that subverts the power dynamics and eroticism often associated with surrealism. Attention is particularly given to the nurturing bond between artist and subject, emphasizing care and wonder. Collectively, the article explores how Abramow’s photographic process fosters inter-subjectivity, allowing her to project her own perspective while providing visibility to her father’s post-coma self.