Louise (Lou) von Salomé
- Born:
- February 12, 1861, Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire
- Died:
- February 5, 1937, Göttingen, Germany
- Nationality:
- Russian-German
- Profession(s):
- Author, Psychoanalyst, Intellectual
Early Life and Education
- Born into an aristocratic Baltic German family.
- Received a broad education from private tutors, including theology, philosophy, and literature.
- Audited courses at the University of Zurich (1880-1882), as women were not yet admitted as full students.
Career and Major Achievements
- Became an influential intellectual figure, engaging with prominent thinkers of her time.
- Known for her independent thinking and her relationships with notable figures such as Friedrich Nietzsche, Paul Rée, and Rainer Maria Rilke.
- Practiced psychoanalysis and became a close associate of Sigmund Freud.
- Published extensively on philosophy, religion, psychology, and sexuality.
- One might consider examining Lou Andreas-Salomé biography graphic organizers as a method to visualise the complex networks of her relationships and intellectual contributions.
Notable Works
- Henrik Ibsens Frauengestalten (1892)
- Friedrich Nietzsche in seinen Werken (1894)
- Ruth (1895)
- Fenitschka (1898)
- Die Erotik (1910)
- Mein Dank an Freud (1931)
- Lebensrückblick: Grundriß einiger Lebenserinnerungen (1933)
Legacy and Impact
Lou von Salomé was a pioneering intellectual who challenged societal norms and made significant contributions to the fields of literature, philosophy, and psychoanalysis. Her work continues to be studied and her life remains a subject of fascination.