Artwork
Cy-devant (Ex-Noble)
Cy-devant (Ex-Noble) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Félicien Rops. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Cy-devant (Ex-Noble) is a 1895 softground etching in black on heavy japan paper by Belgian artist Félicien Rops, associated with Symbolism, Decadence, and the Les XX group.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a weary, slumped figure, dressed in rumpled attire, with a worn expression, conveying a sense of exhaustion and possibly the decline of nobility implied by the title.
Technique & Style
Rops employed softground etching to achieve loose, smudgy lines, evoking a rapid sketch. This technique, involving ink pushed into a metal plate, suits the informal, expressive quality of the work.
History & Provenance
Initially unrecognized by the general public, Rops gained respect among bohemian circles and was in demand by literary figures for illustrations, reflecting his versatile practice across painting, illustration, caricature, and printmaking.
Artist & collection
Artist
Félicien Victor Joseph Rops (French: ; 7 July 1833 – 23 August 1898) was a Belgian artist associated with Symbolism, Decadence, and the Parisian fin de siècle, and was a member of the Les XX group.
