Dimensions: 23.1 x 17.7 cm (9 1/8 x 6 15/16 in.)
Copyright: CC0 1.0
Editor: So, this is Aubrey Beardsley's cover for "The Savoy," issue number eight. It’s just black and white, simple lines, but… something about the woman's pose feels so modern, almost defiant. What do you make of it? Curator: Defiant, yes! Beardsley was all about pushing boundaries. His illustrations often played with androgyny and challenged Victorian ideals. The stark contrast amplifies the tension, and the woman’s gaze avoids ours, creating an intriguing distance. I wonder, what does "The Savoy" evoke for you? Editor: A fancy hotel! Was the magazine trying to be seen as high-class? Curator: Precisely! Beardsley’s decadent style, though controversial, lent the magazine a certain…dare I say… cachet. He burned bright and fast, didn't he? Editor: He really did. I never realised one image could say so much about challenging social norms. Curator: It’s a whisper of rebellion in ink, darling. Art is mischievous like that, isn't it?
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