Page preceding contents list 1895

Aubrey Beardsley created this pen and ink drawing as the page preceding the contents list for Volpone, Ben Jonson’s satire of greed and deceit. Beardsley was working in London in the 1890s, a moment of great social change when the city's institutions of art, literature and theatre were being challenged. This illustration, with its opulent costume and grotesque figure, is indicative of the decadent movement, which rejected the conventions of Victorian morality. Beardsley delights in the artificiality of the theatre, mocking the pretension of the upper classes who attended such plays. His work reflects a desire to challenge the established norms of art and society. To fully appreciate Beardsley's social critique, we can examine periodicals such as The Yellow Book where much of his work appeared, and other documents that illuminate the cultural context of his time. Art history brings a critical understanding of the relationship between art and the prevailing social, political, and economic conditions.