Satan Sowing Tare (Satan semant l'ivraie)

Félicien Rops

National Gallery of Art

This print depicts a tall, elongated figure walking across a landscape beneath a dark sky. The figure wears a wide-brimmed hat, a loose, flowing garment, and clog-like shoes with pointed, upturned toes. They have long hair and limbs that are exaggeratedly long and thin. We can't see their face. They are facing the right, with one leg in front of the other as if they are mid-step. Their left hand holds a bundle of cloth to their chest, either the flowing train of their garment or some kind of bag. The shapes of small people appear to fall out of this flowing cloth towards the ground below. In their outstretched right hand, they hold two of these small people, holding them over the ground as if about to drop them. The landscape below appears to be a dark cityscape, with some rooftops and towers visible. There is also a pale river with bridges stretching across it. The sky above is shadowy, with a pale moon or sun on the right partially covered by dark clouds.