The Baron's Prayer 

Aubrey Beardsley rendered The Baron's Prayer in ink, probably sometime in the 1890s. The character’s opulence is emphasized through a contrast of textures – the precise cross-hatching of the floorboards, the dotted rendering of the landscape beyond, and the floral motif of the Baron’s robe. Beardsley’s technique of choice was the line block printmaking method, meaning he would have drawn directly onto a block of wood or metal, which would then be carved to leave his lines in relief. The resulting prints have a graphic quality, but the original drawings require incredible precision. What is so striking about Beardsley is his technical virtuosity, combined with an interest in erotic subjects that were considered highly controversial at the time. He became famous for his illustrations of Oscar Wilde's play, Salome, and developed a unique style that was both decadent and highly stylized, defying the traditional distinctions between fine art and commercial illustration.