Zittende naakte vrouw met daarachter de schim van Don Juan 1886

Félicien Rops created this etching, "Seated Nude Woman with the Spectre of Don Juan Behind," in the late 19th century. It captures the anxieties around female sexuality that permeated European culture at the time. Here, Rops recasts the infamous Don Juan as a looming, spectral presence behind the nude woman. The woman, adorned with what appears to be a highly decorated body suit, is eroticized while the male figure of Don Juan in the background is demonized. This illustrates the decadent movement's critique of traditional morality and its fascination with the darker aspects of human desire. To truly understand Rops' work, we need to delve into the literary and artistic circles of his time, explore the prevailing attitudes towards women, and examine the ways in which artists challenged or reinforced those attitudes.