Bøker av Aubrey Beardsley

Aubrey Vincent Beardsley (1872/1898) war ein englischer Illustrator, Dichter, Graphiker und Karikaturist. Franz Blei (1871/1942) war ein österreichischer Schriftsteller, Übersetzer und Literaturkritiker. Aus dem Buch: "Durch welches Übel das Abfassen von Widmungsepisteln außer Brauch kam, ob daran die Selbstgefälligkeit der Autoren oder die Bescheidenheit der Patrone die Schuld trägt, dies weiß ich nicht. Doch aber scheint mir der Brauch so schön und gut, daß ich wagte, mich in dieser bescheidenen Form zu versuchen und mein erstes Schriftwerk mit allen Formalitäten Ihnen zu Füßen lege. Ich muß die Befürchtung einbekennen, der Vermessenheit beschuldigt zu werden, daß ich einen so erhabenen Namen wie den Ihren vor diese Geschichte stelle, aber daß man mich dessen nicht allzuleichtfertig rügen wird, hoffe ich, denn bin ich schuldig, so ist dessen Grund nur ein sehr natürlicher Stolz darüber, daß es mir die Begebenheiten meines Lebens erlauben, diese kleine Pinasse meiner Laune unter der Flagge Ihrer Protektion segeln zu lassen..."

Only rarely in publishing history has the ideal edition of a literary work been created, where text, typography, and illustrations complement one another perfectly. Among the few examples are the Kelmscott Chaucer, Baskerville's Milton, and Beardsley's Salome. Another such book is the 1896 edition of Pope's The Rape of the Lock, illustrated by Aubrey Beardsley.Beardsley's elaborate drawings for The Rape of the Lock were created during the last phase of his brief career. This nearly Romantic period, characterized by rich, brilliantly imagined decoration and ornamentation and by high textual contrasts, was perfectly suited to the blend of mock-heroic, satire, and delicate fancy of Pope's poems. As Beardsley's biographer R. A. Walker wrote, These drawings show a verve, a wit and appreciation of the poem than can scarcely be matched in English literature. Using his unique line and black blot technique, Beardsley created a masterpiece of design and mood.This Dover edition reproduces the first edition: the complete text of the five-canto poem, notes, seven full-page drawings, two half-page drawings, and the original cover design by Beardsley.

In the brief span of his life and career, Aubrey Beardsley (1872-98) galvanized public attention in 1890s London with his exotic renderings of subjects, which often projected the sensual and the grotesque. This splendid volume brings together the best of Beardsley's work--a rich selection ranging from illustrations for Laclos's Les Liaisons Dangereuses and Balzac's La Comédie Humaine to magazine cover designs, book plate silhouettes, title-page ornaments, and delightful mini-portraits of major composers. Also included are two photographs of the artist, consisting of private portrait studies by Frederick H. Evans.Over 180 beautifully reproduced black-and-white plates capture the uniqueness of Beardsley's vision and reveal the seductive power of his art. Among the illustrations are brilliantly conceived vignettes from Le Morte D'arthur, Venus and Tannhäuser, Salome, and Lucian's True History as well as enchanting creations for The Yellow Book (an influential British arts quarterly), and much more.Characterized by bold black masses, elongated shapes, and sensually provocative figures, these works are the product of a remarkable individual style that transformed the art of illustration. Reproduced here in an inexpensive high-quality format, they are certain to thrill not only Beardsley enthusiasts but anyone interested in the early years of modern graphic art.Dover (1990) original publication.