The Satanic. Removal 1882

Felicien Rops created “The Satanic. Removal” as a drawing, using line and atmospheric colour to create an ambiguous and sensual scene. The composition is dominated by the bodies in flight, set against a turbulent sky. Look at how Rops uses the figures to destabilize established meanings. The woman is positioned upside down, her body and flowing hair catching the moonlight. This is an inversion of traditional representations of women. A winged demon is riding her, using a broom as a bizarre instrument. The artwork challenges fixed meanings, asking us to consider how the formal elements contribute to a larger commentary on societal values. Rops uses unsettling and unconventional imagery to disrupt traditional interpretations of morality and beauty. This disruption encourages us to reconsider how we assign value and meaning to established concepts.