Poster Design for "The Savoy," bound volumes 1896

Editor: Here we have Aubrey Beardsley's "Poster Design for 'The Savoy,'" of undetermined date. I'm struck by the bold colors and how the figure is both elegant and strangely modern. What's your take on this? Curator: Look at the materiality itself: the poster, as a mass-produced object, challenges notions of artistic value. Beardsley's labor here is tied to the burgeoning print industry and its influence on visual culture. How does this context inform your understanding of the artwork? Editor: That's a great point. I hadn't thought about the social implications of the poster itself. Curator: Exactly! The means of production are as vital as the image itself. Editor: I see what you mean. It's all connected to labor and consumption. Thanks for the insight!