Frontispiece to Chopin's Third Ballade 1895

Aubrey Beardsley created this frontispiece for Chopin’s Third Ballade in the 1890s. Beardsley was a leading figure in the Aesthetic movement and his work often explored themes of beauty, decadence, and eroticism, challenging the strict Victorian morality of his time. Here, a woman in elaborate attire is on a rearing white horse against a dark forest backdrop. Her posture is rigid and aloof, her face turned away, creating a sense of distance. Beardsley’s style often focused on idealized figures and challenged conventional gender roles by imbuing his female figures with power and agency. This image isn't just an illustration; it is a statement about the artist’s own identity and the cultural values of his time. It reflects a desire to escape from societal expectations and to embrace beauty. The artist, who was openly homosexual, once said “I have one aim – the grotesque. If I am not grotesque, I am nothing.” This piece reveals a profound emotional landscape, one where beauty and the grotesque intertwine, prompting us to consider the complexities of identity, desire, and artistic expression.