Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe 1923

Harry Clarke made this illustration for Edgar Allan Poe’s "Tales of Mystery and Imagination", and what strikes me first is his use of this limited palette, like he set himself some rules. It’s almost entirely black and white, but it doesn’t feel restrictive. Rather, it's a stage setting! The composition has an almost theatrical flair, with the figures dramatically posed around a table. Clarke’s line work is incredible; it’s intricate and very detailed. Look at the way he renders the flowing gowns, the water and the twisted expressions on the characters’ faces. There's a sense of movement, like a dance macabre playing out before us. Clarke’s work reminds me a little of Aubrey Beardsley. Both artists create worlds that are beautiful, but deeply unsettling. They manage to convey the sense of the uncanny, that unsettling feeling when the familiar turns strange and disturbing. Ultimately, the beauty of this piece lies in its power to evoke such complex and often contradictory emotions.