Aubrey Beardsley

Aubrey Vincent Beardsley (21 August 1872 – 16 March 1898) was an English illustartor and author. His drawings are characterized by an erotic nature, and his most erotic illustrations are those found in the Lysistrata; Beardsley drew these for a privately printed edition.

Beardsley later converted toCatholicism, and would subsequently beg his publisher, Leonard Smithers, to “destroy all copies of Lysistrata and bad drawings...by all that is holy all obscene drawings." Smithers ignored Beardsley’s wishes, and actually continued to sell reproductions as well as forgeries of Beardsley's work.

Beardsley was active till his death in Menton, France, at the age of 25 on 16 March 1898 of tuberculosis. He had been received into the Roman Catholic Church in March of the previous year.

Here are some illustrations by Beardsley.

I love the expression in the characters' faces. So simple and so complex. The lines and points create patterns and textures.His work just seems so modern.

Here is a link where you can find some more info on Aubrey Beardsley.