These Collot illustrations include images which, in the overused phrase beloved of broadcasters, ‘some viewers may find disturbing’; if you have found your way here, however, you will probably be as amused and intelligently provoked by them as the illustrator intended. They include sexual violence and many are undoubtedly also racist, as was so much art of the time, so if you choose not to explore further press the ‘back’ button now. You have been warned …

In November 2011 a collection of 22 original Collot drawings appeared at auction with Christies of London. It would seem that they were specially commisisoned by a 1930s collector who knew Collot, and depict a wide range of fantasy sexual scenes, many of which depict some form of rape, or ‘deflowerment’ as it was probably termed at the time. Some also include a ‘savage’ or some undefined race, so all in all many of the images are borderline acceptable on any criteria bar social-historical.

In the spirit of not hiding the past, however, the collection is included here to help us think intelligently about what is and is not an appropriate subject for erotic imagery. You can form your own judgement … The title, Le monde brutal (The Brutal World), is ours.

We are very grateful to Hans-Jürgen Döpp for these images; Hans-Jürgen, the compiler of many books on erotic art, curates the Venusberg online gallery and bookshop which you can find here.