Vieille gouge 1889

"Vieille Gouge" is a 1889 etching by Belgian artist Félicien Rops, depicting a close-up portrait of an older woman with a wide, toothy grin, a signature feature of Rops' work. Her head is tilted upwards, suggesting a cheeky, almost mischievous personality. The work is a fine example of the artist's penchant for depicting the grotesque and the macabre with a touch of dark humor, often exploring themes of sexuality and mortality. The etching is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.