Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898) was only twenty-five when he died from
tuberculosis, but in his short life he established a reputation as one
of the most accomplished--and controversial--illustrators of his day.
Astonishingly, all his work was created in the course of only six years,
yet his contribution to the visual language of Art Nouveau was profound;
today, his work is instantly recognizable for its use of black ink and
flowing lines on white paper, along with its erotically charged subject
matter. Not all his work was sexually provocative--much was satirical,
attacking the decadent mores of the time--but some was and remains
shocking, taking its stylistic inspiration from Japanese shunga and
Greek vase painting and its thematic inspiration from mythology,
history, poetry, and drama.
This beautifully designed, accessibly priced book offers a wealth of
illustrations by Beardsley, and introduces his exquisitely crafted
drawings and prints to a new audience. Including a fascinating text by
Jan Marsh, Aubrey Beardsley brings together a carefully curated
selection of works from Beardsley's tragically short but highly
productive life.