Border Design for Title Page; verso: incomplete border 1893

Editor: This is Aubrey Beardsley's "Border Design for Title Page" for Salome. The stark black and white imagery feels both delicate and unsettling. What kind of symbols do you see at play here? Curator: The figure at the top is a powerful symbol. Note the horns, the suggestion of a serpent, and the overall sense of a seductive yet dangerous feminine power. How do these images resonate with you, considering the themes of Oscar Wilde's play? Editor: I guess it evokes temptation and the darker aspects of desire. It's like a visual representation of the play's themes. Curator: Exactly. Beardsley masterfully uses symbolic imagery to tap into our collective understanding of these archetypes, making the design more than just a decorative border. It's a visual prelude. Editor: That makes me see it in a completely different light. Thanks. Curator: My pleasure. It's always rewarding to uncover the layers of meaning in these works.