Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe 1923

This illustration for Edgar Allan Poe’s “Tales of Mystery and Imagination” was made by the Irish artist Harry Clarke in the early 20th century. Clarke came to prominence in the context of the Irish Arts and Crafts movement. The image is dominated by the dark, brooding figure of Roderick Usher, from Poe’s story “The Fall of the House of Usher.” The visual language of Clarke's work connects to a wider cultural interest in the gothic, and the macabre, particularly in the context of post-war anxieties. The art schools of the period played a key role in promoting the values of traditional craftsmanship. Yet Clarke's decadent style can also be seen to critique the conservative values of the Irish Free State. Looking at Clarke’s image today, we can ask how the social and institutional context shaped his artistic vision. Research into the history of the Irish Arts and Crafts movement will reveal much about this context.