Paniconographie (Pornography)
Felicien Rops (1833-1898), Paniconography (Pornography), etching, drypoint, soft-ground etching, c. 1880, signed and titled in pencil lower right, and signed again toward the bottom of the sheet. References: Exteens 764, Revens and Amiel 210. In good condition, the full sheet (some soft handling folds, slight soiling, toning), with full margins, 8 1/2 x 6 1/4, the sheet 18 x 11 5/8 inches. Printed in black ink on an ivory/tan wove paper with the watermark MBM.
A fine impression of a woman perched atop a centaur, plus a few sketches of faces in the upper left. As usual, Rops utilizes his vast talent as a draftsman in the service of a far-flung pornographic image.
Paniconograhy is rarely seen on the market, perhaps for obvious reasons; the last recorded sale we could find at auction was at Christie’s London in December 1992 (sold for 440L or $685).
Note: this print will be sold unmatted.