Cover 1897

Curator: Aubrey Beardsley created this design, "Cover," a black ink drawing, likely commissioned. What's your immediate take? Editor: It's unsettling. The stark black shapes are ornate yet feel predatory, almost like elegant gargoyles hiding in a garden. Curator: The image accompanies Ben Jonson's play, "Volpone," and in that context, these dark shapes could represent cunning and deceit. Editor: Absolutely. The fox-like figures intertwined with decorative flora suggest a hidden world of symbolic meaning. It's a cultural statement. Curator: Beardsley challenged Victorian norms, didn't he? He embraced the grotesque, using it to critique social hypocrisy. Editor: Precisely. The visual symbols reflect a deeper narrative. It speaks to a timeless tale of greed and deception. Curator: Seeing it now through those lenses adds another dimension. Editor: These elements transform the artwork into an iconic visual representation of human flaws.