Illustrated Letter to Armand Gouzien. Engraving by Rops, Felicien - Nd

Nd. Very good condition. Caricature of Armand Gouzien, French musician, journalist and friend of the artist, arriving in a French village to the great joy of the villagers. Depicting a large bearded Gouzien with his piano tucked under one arm, while spinning a magic top in the palm of the other hand, from which burst numerous arrows & hearts. Small female villagers cling to his arms and legs, and throw themselves at his feet. The text reads, "Joie immoderee & inconstitutionelle des jeunes [illegible] du village de Nettet les Canards, en apprenant l'arivee de Gouzien & de son piano..." Rops (1833-1898) was a Belgian artist known for his association with famous writers of the day such as Charles Baudelaire, and his artistic themes of sex and death as exhibited in his printmaking and etchings. Image 12 x 9 3/4", paper 19 1/2 x 12 1/2"