How Sir Launcelot was Known by Dame Elaine II 1893

Aubrey Beardsley made this pen and ink drawing, “How Sir Launcelot was Known by Dame Elaine,” as an illustration for a new edition of Thomas Malory’s “Le Morte d’Arthur.” Here we see the artist engaging with the medieval Arthurian legend through the visual language of the late 19th century. Beardsley's black and white drawing presents a romantic vision of medieval chivalry. The composition, with its bold outlines and stylized forms, draws on Japanese woodblock prints, which were very fashionable at the time. The image shows Elaine tending to the wounded Launcelot in a scene of quiet intimacy. Beardsley seems to be commenting on the aesthetic sensibilities of his own time, when the Pre-Raphaelites were very popular and artists and writers were drawn to stories of romance, heroism, and tragedy. To understand Beardsley, one might look into the art institutions of the late 19th century, such as the art schools and galleries that promoted aestheticism. It is through the study of such sources that the social and institutional context of art can be better understood.