Object Type
This small poster is printed by the medium of line-block. This is a photographic development of relief etching and was perfected in the 1880s. It can only be used for the reproduction of line drawings or flat areas without intermediary tones. Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898) was one of the first artists to make drawings specifically for reproduction by line-block. The name of Carl Hentschel, who engraved many line-blocks after Beardsley's drawings, is to be found at the bottom right corner of this poster.
People
Aubrey Beardsley, artist and illustrator, was a leading light in the English Aesthetic Movement. Originally encouraged by Sir Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898), he became an admirer of the artist James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903), under whose influence he studied Japanese prints. Beardsley achieved fame illustrating Oscar Wilde's 'Salome' and the first volume of 'The Yellow Book'. His masterly use of black and white line and sinuous, curving compositions expressed the spirit of the international art movement Art Nouveau.
Subjects Depicted
The quarterly 'Yellow Book' was devoted to the Aesthetic and Decadent Movements. When it was first published in 1894, it became an immediate success with the avant-garde of art and literature. Beardsley's spirited designs, and its flaunting yellow covers, helped to make it a sensation.
Physical description
'Sold here. The Yellow Book'; Contents of Vol. 1, April 1894; Small poster or show-card advertising the periodical published by Elkin Mathews and John Lane at the Bodley Head, London, and by Copeland and Day, Boston; On the left of the sheet, showing a woman wearing a long dress holding a summer hat in her hand. On the right of the sheet, text detailing the letterpress and pictorial content of the volume; Line-block and letterpress, dark blue ink on yellow paper.
Place of Origin
London, England (printed)
Date
1894 (made)
Artist/maker
Beardsley, Aubrey Vincent, born 1872 - died 1898 (designer)
Carl Hentschel, born 1864 - died 1930 (engraver)
Materials and Techniques
Line-block and letterpress, dark blue ink on yellow paper
Marks and inscriptions
Signed within the design 'AUBREY BEARDSLEY'; Lettered 'C. Hentschel. Sc.'
Dimensions
Height: 39.4 cm, Width: 29.8 cm
Object history note
Designed by Aubrey Beardsley (born in Brighton, Sussex, 1872, died in Menton, France, 1898); printed in London
Descriptive line
'Sold here. The Yellow Book'; Contents of Vol. 1, April 1894; Small poster or show-card advertising the periodical published by Elkin Mathews and John Lane, London, and by Copeland and Day, Boston; Showing a woman wearing a long dress; Line-block and letterpress, dark blue ink on yellow paper; Design by Aubrey Vincent Beardsley; Great Britain; 1894.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Summary Catalogue of British Posters to 1988 in the Victoria & Albert Museum in the Department of Design, Prints & Drawing. Emmett Publishing, 1990. 129 p. ISBN: 1 869934 12 1
Text of the entry as follows:
BEARDSLEY, Aubrey Vincent (1872-1898)
...
Sold here. The Yellow Book. Contents of Vol. 1, April 1894. Small poster or show-card advertising the periodical published by Elkin Mathews and John Lane at the Bodley Head, London, and by Copeland and Day, Boston. [FP.I.6; Reade 341, an original design]. 1894 S LB & LP in dark blue on yellow paper 34.6 x 22.9 cm
E.1377-1931 fiche 3/F1
Another impression of the above (E.1377-1931).
E.439-1972'
NB: 'FP.I.' refers to:
FP1
Malhotra, R. and Thon, C., eds. Das frühe Plakat in Europa und den USA: Ein Bestandskatalog, Band I, Grossbritannien; Vereinigte Staaten von Nordamerika. Berlin. 1973.
Labels and date
British Galleries:
This poster, which was designed by Audrey Beardsley, advertised the first issue of 'The Yellow Book', a quarterly magazine which brought together the literature and art of the Aesthetic Movement. The poster lists many of the most prominent figures involved. [27/03/2003]
Subjects depicted
Flowers; Woman; Hat
Categories
Prints; Advertising; Posters
Collection code
PDP
