Catalogue & Collected Essays by Victor Arwas
+ Rops & Austin Osman Spare by Dr William Wallace
We are pleased to announce our most extravagant title yet for exclusive pre-orders.
Introducing a lavish new survey of the transgressive Belgian Symbolist and his decadent, blasphemous, erotic, supernatural graphics. This will be the most extensive publication on Rops in English.
Richly-illustrated throughout with over 900 items in the collection, from unpublished proof-copies of prints, to watercolours and drawings, to notorious illustrations for Les Épaves by Baudelaire (1868), The Supreme Vice by Péladan (1884), A Heart Lost by Peladan (1888), Poésies by Mallarmé, The Lyre (1895), Chair (1896) by Verlaine, Parallelism (1896), Les Diaboliques by Barbey d’Aurevilly (1896), and of course his major Symbolist series, the Sataniques. Featuring the uniquely completist Arwas collection, this is a veritable catalogue raisonné of this intoxicating artist.
The extensive Afterword ‘Selective Affinities’ by Dr Wallace, takes an in-depth look at Rops’ influence upon Spare’s early graphic style and obsessive themes, taking specific note of the double crucifixion rendered by both artists (notably, Spare’s version was also in the Arwas collection).
Published to coincide with the major exhibition of the Arwas collection at the Rops Musée, Namur, April–September 2026.
Contents include Three authoritative biographical, art historical essays by Victor Arwas, focusing upon the Symbolist milieu and Rops’ involvement with Péladan, Baudelaire, Mallarmé. • Themed art sections: Erotica, Symbolism, Les Diaboliques, Les Sataniques, Observations of City Life, frontispieces / ex-libris. Catalogue of publications and prints. • Your name included on the subscribers’ list.
DELUXE EDITION Strict limitation of 100 copies
215 x 260 mm, pp.330. Litho, sewn, extensive 200 colour-plate section, frontispiece, signature page, hand-numbered on colophon. Hand-marbled endpapers, tail-bands, foil-blocked and quarter-bound in leather, cloth slipcased, and tipped-in on front with sink-plate of a Rops design. Illustrated dust-jacket. Over 600 black & white images. Features exclusive inserts, prints, postcards.
— SUITABLE FOR THE ADULT READER ONLY —
Post to UK –
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Post to USA \ Rest of World –
STANDARD EDITION 600 copies
215 x 260 mm, pp.330. Litho, sewn, extensive 200 colour-plate section, frontispiece, hand-numbered on colophon. tail-bands, bookmark ribbon. Illustrated dust-jacket. Over 600 black & white images.
Post to UK –
Post to Europe –
Post to USA \ Rest of World –
“There has never been art without love. It is only for her ardent lovers that Nature, the mysterious Isis, unravels her belt and drops her clothing, she only reveals her secrets to the bold ones who lift her star studded cloak with a trembling hand.”
