The Black Cat, for Edgar Allan Poe’s “Tales of Mystery and the Imagination,” Chicago, 1895-96 1894

"The Black Cat" is a pen and ink illustration by Aubrey Beardsley from 1894, depicting a black cat perched menacingly atop the head of a woman. Known for its bold black and white lines and dramatic use of light and shadow, the piece is a prime example of Beardsley's Art Nouveau style, characterized by sinuous lines, stylized figures, and a focus on the grotesque and macabre. This illustration is a visual representation of Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Black Cat," capturing its eerie atmosphere and themes of guilt, obsession, and the supernatural.