The artwork, titled “Lady with Puppet,” was created in 1877 by the artist Félicien Rops. Displaying characteristics of the Symbolism art movement, this genre painting measures 40 x 28 cm.
The artwork portrays a woman standing beside a pedestal, her gaze fixed on a puppet she holds aloft in her right hand. The woman is dressed in a semi-revealing red and yellow dress, suggesting a sense of elegance and allure. She holds a fan in her left hand and is placed near a pedestal adorned with sculpted figures and inscribed with the words “UBI MULIER,” which translates to “where the woman” in Latin. Below the inscription is the phrase “ECCE HOMO,” meaning “behold the man” in Latin, next to which is a teal bust of a devilish figure. The pedestal and its inscriptions, combined with the woman’s attire and the puppet, evoke a sense of narrative and mystery, inviting the viewer to delve deeper into the symbolic implications presented by Rops. The scene’s composition and intricate elements intricately blend to create a narrative steeped in symbolic meaning and artistic expression.
