By Edgar Allan Poe 

Editor: This ink drawing is titled "By Edgar Allan Poe" and is by Aubrey Beardsley. There isn’t a date for the artwork but I’m struck by how contemporary this portrait feels, despite the artist's interest in the past. What stands out to you in terms of formal elements? Curator: Indeed. Formally, one must address the dichotomy between the use of stark line work and the seemingly disproportionate use of chiaroscuro, the exaggerated contrast in Poe's hair being the most visible sign of the latter. We can immediately discuss this opposition, because it creates a striking imbalance that contributes greatly to the caricature itself. Editor: It feels almost unfinished or sketched. I was drawn to how exaggerated the lines and features appear to be. Can this contribute to a caricature, as you mentioned? Curator: Precisely. This imbalance prompts consideration of Beardsley’s employment of exaggeration, particularly evident in the rendering of Poe's gaze. It begs the question: does this accentuate a quality of intense scrutiny or perhaps ridicule? Notice how the employment of the negative space creates definition without actual drawing? This void outlines Poe’s cheeks, adding depth but contributing to the somewhat cartoonish element. Editor: That's a clever technique! Now I am interested in understanding the structural arrangement better, thanks to your detailed perspective. Curator: Precisely. That kind of tension and play is exactly what I am looking for. Thank you for pointing that out and clarifying that for me.