Liggende naakte vrouw, deels achter een gordijn 1886

Editor: So, this is "Liggende naakte vrouw, deels achter een gordijn" by Felicien Rops, from 1886. It’s a print housed here at the Rijksmuseum. There's something very dreamlike, or maybe nightmarish, about the shadowy figure and the reclining nude. What jumps out at you? Curator: Dreamlike indeed! Rops often explored the darker undercurrents of society, wouldn't you agree? It's like peering into a hazy memory, or a forbidden desire. Notice how the curtain acts as a veil, obscuring and revealing at the same time. Do you get a sense of voyeurism, perhaps? Editor: Definitely a feeling of being a voyeur! And the way the nude seems to float… Is she sleeping, or is something more sinister at play? Curator: That's the delicious ambiguity, isn't it? Rops was a master of suggestion. Consider the context: the late 19th century, a time of great social and moral upheaval. The piece seems to hint at hidden pleasures, forbidden desires, maybe even the dangers lurking beneath the surface of respectability. What story do you think the artist is trying to tell? Editor: I think you're right; there’s a tension between what’s acceptable and what's hidden. Maybe he is commenting on societal hypocrisy! This has definitely given me more to think about than just the aesthetic of the piece. Curator: Exactly! Art invites us to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and find our own meaning. This piece isn't just about a reclining nude; it's a window into the complex and sometimes contradictory soul of a society. It also inspires one to explore one's personal demons to reflect upon. Editor: That makes me appreciate it much more!