Aubrey Beardsley, cover design for the first issue of The Yellow Book, 1899
A woman with a mysterious smile and a man peering from behind...
This piece combines Beardsley's characteristic sharp decorativeness, humor, and dark sensuality.
Beardsley designed the cover of the literary magazine The Yellow Book, which was founded by John Lane and Elkin Matthews in April 1894.
The composition, with its masquerade theme and strong contrast of light and shadow, seems to symbolize the decadent, fin-de-siècle mood of the time.
The long candle burning in the candlestick, the dark background, and the expressions of the figures visible through their masks convey a quiet sense of exhilaration.
The humorous and the macabre, the elegance and the satire. This work is a culmination of Beardsley's genius for skillfully playing with these boundaries.
This work was included in a memorial collection (1899) produced by John Lane, the publisher of Beardsley's masterpiece Salome, after his early death in 1898.
Work information
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Artist : Aubrey Beardsley
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Title : Cover design for the first issue of Yellow Book
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Year of production : 1899 First edition
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Technique : Line block (line drawing printing)
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Size : approx. 28.2 x 21.6cm
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Artist / Title : Aubrey Beardsley / Cover Design for The Yellow Book Volume I
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For more on Beardsley, please see Rivoli Antiques' special page.
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--All genuine, all original.
This work is an original antique print made over 100 years ago.
All works sold at Rivoli Antiques are genuine works of artistic value that were printed at the time, and are not later reproductions or copies.
Framing options
This work is usually provided unframed so that you can enjoy the original charm of the work as it is, taking into consideration the preservation of the paper and its use as a collection.
If desired, we offer a custom framing plan (additional charge) in which we will select and suggest a frame for you. We can frame your work with consideration for artistic balance, the color of the work, and harmony with your interior decor.
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About the condition
This work is an original antique print created over 100 years ago.
All works sold by Rivoli Antiques are genuine pieces of artistic value printed at the time, and are not later reproductions or copies.
Due to their nature, antique prints rarely come with individual certificates of authenticity like contemporary works.
Therefore, where you buy and who is in charge of selecting the works are of utmost importance.
At Rivoli Antiques, we carefully select our items based on the trust we have built through many years of collaboration with museums and experts.
We only introduce works that you can safely add to your collection.
Natural fading and stains may appear over time, but these are also proof of the era the piece has passed through and are elements that convey the texture of the materials and techniques used to create it.
You can also come and see the paintings in person at the gallery to check their condition, so please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
About the store and reliability
At Rivoli Antiques, we have a track record of lending works to the Tokyo National Museum and the British Museum, and we present works according to museum-level selection criteria.
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