Man met pijp en plakkaat om zijn nek 1863

Curator: Right, let's talk about this little rebel by Félicien Rops. It's titled "Man with Pipe and Sign Around His Neck," dating back to 1863, residing here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Oh, a disgruntled dandy, wouldn't you say? Immediately striking – almost tragicomic. He looks so out of place with his silly hat, but he demands your attention. The sketchiness, it hints at something ephemeral. Curator: Precisely! It's a caricature, really leaning into that 19th-century obsession with societal critique. Notice the sign around his neck, "On demande une nourrice." "Seeking a wet nurse." Editor: Oh, the absurdity! He’s dressed rather... matronly? And smoking a pipe, like he owns the place. It feels almost punk, ahead of its time. Such raw strokes, really getting the mood across. Curator: Well, that's Rops for you! He’s all about poking fun at social norms, challenging bourgeois values. Consider how institutions like salons or even wet nurses played into this game of class and privilege. This image, while funny, raises serious questions. Who gets access to what, and how are those needs communicated? Editor: I love the raw, unfinished feeling. It's like a fleeting thought captured on paper. A feeling made visible. Almost Romantic in its rebellious spirit. The slight distortion, that pinch of dark humor... Makes it so human. It makes one stop and wonder... who IS this person, and what drove him to it? Curator: Yes! He used both ink and pencil. And you get the impression this guy has a whole backstory – that's the beauty of it, isn't it? It allows for speculation, an entry point to imagine him as a complex human being who might just dress up. The romantic view goes as far as to ask you to accept them for who they are or are not! Editor: Rops captures a mood with minimal fuss. What strikes you most about this fellow now? Curator: The accessibility. The fact that art institutions give exposure to artists who challenge institutions is mind blowing to me. Editor: Indeed! This peculiar fellow surely stays with you!