Illustration of 'Les Diaboliques' 1879

Felicien Rops's 1879 illustration "Illustration of 'Les Diaboliques'" depicts a macabre scene. A couple, intertwined in a passionate embrace, sits atop a column entwined with snakes. The woman, with a chillingly vacant stare, appears to be a Medusa-like figure. Below, another woman reaches towards the column, seemingly trying to break free from the serpents' grasp. This haunting image, executed in stark black and white, is characteristic of Rops's style, which often explored themes of sin, temptation, and the darker aspects of human nature.