Unique illustrated book by Rodolphe Julian about Ompdrailles, a popular invincible fighter, nicknamed “Tombeau des lutteurs” for his strength. Published in 1879, the book was an example of Julian's ability to synthesize the sign, revealing in these etchings his love for classicism, and providing the fighter Ompdrailles with the classical features and poses characterized by a veiled homosexuality. Rodolphe Julian, who founded the Académie Julian in Paris in 1867, was a modest painter endowed with a great insight. He opened a space called “Académie”, which was mainly dedicated to the several foreign artists who were arriving in Paris at the time and who, being unable to speak French very well, could not access the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. Julian provided models to the artists, but above all he made available a space in which they could paint anything in any style, without interference of any kind. Cunningly and in exchange for large sums, he had also managed to persuade some teachers from the Ecole des Beaux-Arts to come and view, from time to time, the students' works and make suggestions to them, something that gave prestige to the Académie. The Académie Julian was attended by several artists who would later become popular, such as Vincent van Gogh, Paul Sèrusier, Félix Vallotton, Ignacio Zuloaga, Emile Bernard, Henry Matisse, Jean Dubuffet, Marcel Duchamp and many others. The Académie Julian also became famous because it could be attended by women who, at that time, could not access either the Ecole des Beaux-Arts or nude courses. The Académie Julian still exists today and is part of the Ecole supérieur d'art graphique Penninghem, an institution associated to France's Ministry of National Education.