The artwork titled “Illustration for ‘Les Epaves’ by Charles Baudelaire” was created by the artist Felicien Rops in the year 1866. It belongs to the Symbolism art movement and is categorized under the illustration genre.
The artwork presents a highly detailed and intricately engraved scene. At the center, a skeletal figure is depicted entwined with branching structures, which spell out “Les Epaves” amidst the boughs. Surrounding the skeleton, a myriad of symbolic elements can be observed, each labeled with vices such as “Superbia” (Pride), “Gula” (Gluttony), and “Avaritia” (Greed). Above, a condemned human figure drifts among demonic cherubs, enhancing the illustration’s dark and foreboding atmosphere. This meticulous composition encapsulates the macabre and allegorical themes common in Symbolist art and reflects the somber and reflective nature of Baudelaire’s literary work.
