Madame Rejane 1897

Aubrey Beardsley created this pen and ink drawing, Madame Rejane, using stark black and white contrasts. The composition is split into sharply defined areas. On the left, a dense tree and winding path create depth, while the right features the figure of Madame Rejane and a hanging tassel, emphasizing flatness. Beardsley’s approach to form here is fascinating. He plays with positive and negative space to create visual tension. The solid black areas intensify the detailed linework of the figure and the landscape. The exaggerated features of Madame Rejane, combined with the artificiality of the setting, suggest a critique of representation itself. The drawing functions as a sign, with Beardsley manipulating visual codes to challenge conventional aesthetics. The use of the black and white, along with stylized forms, isn't merely decorative; it disrupts traditional values of beauty and invites us to question the structures of perception.