

Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c.

The inscription on the left margin reads:Įt toujours testons de bachelles furent plat de Diableries.About this artwork Status Currently Off View Department Prints and Drawings Artist Félicien Rops Title The Absinthe Drinker Place Belgium (Artist's nationality) Dateĭates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Woe to men! ' (Bernadette Bonnier & Veronique Leblanc, Félicien Rops, Vie et Oeuvre, Bruges, 1997, p. Such delicious bait could only exist through and for the devil. The image of a severed breast presented on a platter by a gaunt, clawed hand is extremely significant. ''Here they stand - the evil ones - the perverse - enemies made for men's mouths.'' So reads the text signed by an improbable sounding J. Held up or revealed, they are emblematic of a seduction which displays its assets and exploits a power that Rops denounces as malevolent. 'The entire page, including the margin drawings, is a hymn to triumphant breasts. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."Įxecuted circa 1875-85, the present work forms part of the canon of works of an innately erotic nature, which took up a large part of Rops's graphic oeuvre. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. "In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Note: This work was viewed outside studio conditions. There is slight rubbing across the darker figure in the upper rectangle. There is a little surface dirt and some very slight staining on the left edge of the worked area. At present it is attached at the corners to a thin card of good quality. The artist has used a sheet of wove, prepared paper, which has given him a smooth surface to work upon. This condition report has been provided by Jane McAusland FIIC, Conservator and Restorer of Art on Paper, Nether Hall Barn, Old Newton, Nr Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14.
