At a Dinner of Atheists 1879

Felicien Rops created "At a Dinner of Atheists" with pencil and charcoal, presenting a scene cloaked in ambiguity. The composition is dominated by a reclining nude figure, positioned horizontally and bisected by a harsh diagonal ray of light that slices through the somber tones. Rops masterfully uses chiaroscuro to heighten the drama, pitting light against dark to create a sense of unease and spiritual questioning. The setting is vaguely defined. Is it an altar? A tabletop? This hints at Rops' interest in challenging fixed meanings and categories through visual representation. The woman's posture, along with the work's title, suggests a critique of both religious and secular certainties, typical of the symbolist movement that sought to destabilize conventional values through provoking imagery. Ultimately, the artwork functions as a site for contemplating the tensions between belief, skepticism, and the human form.