Three figures on horseback with indications at right 1833 - 1898

This sketch of three figures on horseback, by Felicien Rops, captures a nineteenth-century sensibility. Rops lived through a time of significant social and political change. As such, his artistic production often challenged the established norms of his time. Consider the position of the riders, poised, perhaps waiting. What are they waiting for? What are they looking at? Rops was known for his satirical and often provocative depictions of modern life. He explored themes of social hypocrisy, the erotic, and the decadent. He captured a sense of underlying tension in many of his works, as he was very interested in the contrast between outward appearances and inner realities. Rops once said, “I want to depict the modern woman as I see her… frivolous, perverse, and essentially immoral.” The artist asks us to question what is seen and what is felt. The drawing invites us to reflect on the power dynamics inherent in looking, and how we interpret the scenes that we witness.