Cover designs for "Ulenspiegel au Salon" 1850 - 1900

Felicien Rops, known for his satirical and often controversial works, created these cover designs for "Ulenspiegel au Salon" between 1850 and 1900. The drawings, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, capture Rops' signature style with its dark humor and exaggerated figures. The left design features a man atop a large, stylized letter "O" amidst a chaotic scene of birds and figures. The right design depicts a woman on a pedestal, seemingly mocking a man kneeling with his back turned towards her. These designs are characteristic of Rops' social commentary and masterful use of caricature, hinting at a darker narrative underneath their whimsical exterior.