The Sparrow of Lesbie (Le moineau de Lesbie) 

Félicien Rops made this print, “The Sparrow of Lesbie,” using etching sometime in the late 19th century. It shows a reclining nude woman and a cupid set against the backdrop of a broken stone tablet. Rops was a Belgian artist associated with the Decadent movement. He often depicted controversial subjects, challenging the conservative social norms of his time. This print references the poetry of Catullus, who wrote about his love for a woman he called Lesbia, as well as the death of her pet sparrow. Through his work, Rops commented on themes of love, death, and female sexuality in a rapidly modernizing society, reflecting a broader cultural fascination with transgression. To understand “The Sparrow of Lesbie” fully, it is useful to examine the illustrated periodicals of the day. These would give us insight into the prevailing attitudes toward female sexuality and the Decadent movement.