Pêcheuse d'Heyst.

Pencil, gouache, 25,4 x 21,4 cm, laid paper, signed "F.R.", dated, located, dedicated (sl. toned, sm. strip of same paper mounted at right edge for better composition).

Mounted on paper frame with strips of thin Japan paper. Under passe-partout.

Very fine, expressive and realistic portrait of a fisherwoman which demonstrates the technical mastery of Félicien Rops (1833-1898). Famous original drawing related to the Popp case. In 1886, Rops offered this drawing to his friend Adolphe Popp. Six years later, Popp asked and received permission from Rops to reproduce the drawing in a few prints as a present for his friends and family. Popp, however, betrayed Rops and started a business in these heliogravures. When Rops found out, he demanded Popp to stop his business and give him the entire edition. This is why the print is now extremely rare. The broken friendship between the two is discussed in a letter to M. Bonvoisin of 1893: "[...] Je te raconterai comment cette fripouille de Popp, je parle du vieux Popp Adolphe, s'est conduit avec moi, à propos d'un dessin qu'il avait fait reproduire et dont il vendait les épreuves ! Jolie fripouille, je l'ai d'ailleurs traité de haut en bas, de simple escroc. [...]".
Ref. Rouir II pp. 58-60.
Prov. Adolphe Popp, textile merchant (pencil dedication). - Henri Cassiers (1858-1944), Belgian painter and son-in-law of Popp. - Jozef van den Broeck (1870-1938), Antwerp lawyer. - Paul van der Perre (20th c.), Brussels art dealer.