Praying Angel 1893

Editor: This is Aubrey Beardsley's "Praying Angel," created sometime before his death in 1898. It's a small drawing, only about 6 inches tall. The angel's stylized form and the heavy use of black and white feels very modern. What do you see in how Beardsley made this? Curator: I see a deliberate engagement with the means of production. Look at the starkness of the line, indicative of the woodblock printing process. Beardsley exploits the inherent limitations, turning them into aesthetic strengths. How does this challenge traditional notions of artistic skill and labor, focusing instead on the printmaking process as a key component to understanding the work? Editor: I never thought about that. Thank you for pointing that out.