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Aubrey Beardsley

What is aubrey beardsley?

· Emily Grant

Key facts

Full name Aubrey Vincent Beardsley[1]
Birth date August 21, 1872[1]
Birth place Brighton, Sussex, England[1]
Death date March 16, 1898[1]
Death place Menton, France[1]
Role English illustrator and author[1]

Aubrey Beardsley was an English illustrator and author, born in Brighton in 1872 and died in Menton in 1898, known as the leading English illustrator of the 1890s and a major figure in the Aestheticism movement [1].

Context

Aubrey Beardsley was an English illustrator and author, born in Brighton in 1872 and died in Menton in 1898 [1]. He is identified as the leading English illustrator of the 1890s and a major figure in the Aestheticism movement [1]. His black ink drawings were influenced by Japanese woodcuts [2]. His contribution to Art Nouveau and poster styles is described as significant [2]. Beardsley's death from tuberculosis is mentioned in sources [2].

Documented claims

  • Beardsley was the leading English illustrator of the 1890s. [1]
  • He was an outstanding figure in the Aestheticism movement after Oscar Wilde. [1]
  • His black ink drawings were influenced by Japanese woodcuts. [2]
  • His contribution to Art Nouveau and poster styles was significant. [2]

Questions and answers

Why was Aubrey Beardsley controversial?

His work was controversial due to its provocative and often grotesque imagery, which challenged Victorian sensibilities [1].

Who said 'if I am not grotesque, I am nothing'?

The quote is attributed to Aubrey Beardsley, reflecting his embrace of the grotesque in his art [1].

What was Aubrey Beardsley's religion?

Beardsley converted to Catholicism in 1895, a fact noted in his biography [3].

Sources

  1. Aubrey Beardsley and the Aesthetic Movement — guides.loc.gov (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. [PDF] AUBREY BEARDSLEY — people.clas.ufl.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Aubrey Beardsley: A Biography (Revised) — rizzolibookstore.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in People