Reframing Histories of Disability: How Should We Study Disabled Historical Figures?
By Hope Talbot, 2nd Year History
Renoir in his studio in the early 1990s (Image via The National Gallery)
Goya was profoundly Deaf. Towards the end of his life, Matisse was a wheelchair user. Renoir had to tape his brushes to his hands due to difficulties with manual dexterity. Degas turned to sculpture in later life when his visual impairment left him unable to paint
In many ways, the techniques these artists adopted due to their disabilities created the artistic styles they are now renowned for. By innovating, and moving past ableist art-making processes, they created new and dynamic forms to push them towards artistic success.
However, whilst this innovation is indeed incredible, a harmful narrative is often pushed to explain the lived experiences of these disabled artists. This narrative states that, once success is achieved, disability becomes irrelevant, instead replaced by wealth and glory to ‘overcome’ the disability entirely. It’s a narrative that erases disability entirely and undermines the identities of these individuals.
Moreover, when it comes to considering the lives of disabled artists, and disabled historic figures, it’s important we uphold a level of nuance in discussing how disability informs identity. Whilst disabilities can be incredibly challenging, it is nonetheless a central part of someone’s identity, and shouldn’t be consistently framed as something to be ‘overcome’.
Oftentimes, it’s less about disability creating issues of access, and more so that we live in a world that is inherently inaccessible. Regardless of how much money, or success you gain on an individual basis, disabilities remain a distinctive part of people’s daily lives.
As a carer for my disabled mother, I’m always baffled by how poorly designed the world is for the use of her wheelchair. From buildings to cars, to even so-called ‘accessible’ facilities, the world has been primarily built for those who don’t have physical disabilities. For less visible disabilities, even greater issues arise as to the nature of access. Often, because these disabilities aren’t seen, they are less validated, with access further restricted based on this lack of visibility.
Whilst issues of access are not erased upon gaining wealth or success, it’s important to recognise that disability can be a deeply empowering label also. Although disability can often present regular difficulties in day-to-day life, it’s also an identity to rally around and strive alongside.
Overall, we need to view disability with nuance. While disabled people shouldn’t be upheld as martyrs they also shouldn’t be dismissed upon their first signs of succeeding in spite of disability. Being disabled is an identity that individuals carry with them consistently, both as a form of empowerment and as an acknowledgement of the very real struggles disabled individuals face.