1864
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Frontispiece: The Dregs of Society (Las bas-fonds de la societe) is a 1864 ink by Félicien Rops, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a woman holding a large sign that reads *"Bas-fonds de la société"* and *"Photographe à Paris."* Around her are smaller scenes: a naked woman sitting, people talking, a man on horseback, and a group near a lamppost. The lines are loose and sketchy, giving everything a rough, hurried look. The woman’s sign hints at a photographer’s studio for "the dregs of society"—likely poor or marginalized people. The mix of scenes feels like a snapshot of Parisian life, both ordinary and strange. Want to know more? Try looking up etching to see how artists like this made prints.
Félicien Victor Joseph Rops (French: ; 7 July 1833 – 23 August 1898) was a Belgian artist associated with Symbolism, Decadence, and the Parisian fin de siècle, and was a member of the Les XX group.
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