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March 4, 2026
‘He paints phalluses the way others paint landscapes’: the disturbing genius of erotica pioneer Félicien Rops
A new exhibition at Kunsthaus Zurich revisits the Belgian artist whose wild women of the demimonde scandalised the belle epoque – and still shock audiences today
TL;DR
- Félicien Rops, a Belgian artist from the 19th century, created provocative art featuring nude women, satanic elements, and surreal sexual imagery.
- His most famous work, 'Pornocrates,' depicts a blindfolded, naked woman walking a pet pig, symbolizing themes of temptation and female power.
- Rops' art influenced artists like Picasso and was recognized by critics for its explicit and often phallic imagery.
- Born into wealth, Rops abandoned a traditional life for art, philandering, and a bohemian lifestyle in Paris.
- He illustrated works for authors like Baudelaire and Verlaine, depicting 'Ropsiennes'—modern women he saw as femme fatales.
- Rops lived unconventionally, maintaining a ménage à trois with two sisters and fathering children with both, while achieving great career success.
- His works, including watercolours and prints, are highly sought after by collectors and museums, with a rare watercolour selling for a significant sum.
- A new exhibition, 'Laboratory of Lust,' at Kunsthaus Zurich aims to present Rops' complex legacy, acknowledging his disturbing and violent art while resisting censorship.
- The exhibition aims to spark conversations about sexuality, male culture's perception of women, and the relevance of Rops' art in the #MeToo era.
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