Title page and key monogram of The Mountain Lover 1895

Aubrey Beardsley created this title page and key monogram for "The Mountain Lover" in the 1890s. Beardsley was a leading figure in the Aesthetic movement, which prized beauty and sensual experience above all else. This black and white drawing reflects the influence of Japanese woodblock prints, a style which was very fashionable at the time. We see the title of the book suggested through the monogram, at the top of the page. The natural world is referenced in the flowing lines and floral motifs. Beardsley's art often challenged the strict moral codes of Victorian society. His images often explored themes of sexuality, decadence, and the subversive. Beardsley once said: "I have one aim – the grotesque. If I am not grotesque, I am nothing." This drawing, created during a time of great social change, invites us to consider the complex relationship between art, identity, and cultural values. It encourages us to embrace the beauty and strangeness of the human experience, and to challenge the boundaries of our own perceptions.