Know the Artist: Aubrey Beardsley

The eccentric English illustrator and author Aubrey Beardsley (b. United Kingdom, 1872-98) wielded beauty, humor, and horror in ink. In a brilliant but brief career spanning less than a decade, Beardsley revolutionized his art form-ruffling many a Victorian feather in the process.
Salome's Last Dance - • Salome's Last Dance (1...
This is Several Circles, where we tell the stories of extraordinary artists from across history and the present day. We believe art history content should be accessible-free of charge and impenetrable jargon, but abundant in fascinating facts, illuminating analyses, and entertaining anecdotes.
Each episode is written and hosted by Rachel, an art journalist-turned-copywriter at The Met, and produced by Jason, a New York City art technician. The fuzzy feline superstars are Jimmy (big and bushy) and Tallulah (small with thumbs).
We started this channel to indulge our fascination with what compels an artist to create the way they do, and we intend to grow it into a vast and celebratory archive of the weird and wonderful eccentrics who constitute the art history continuum.
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[@TheArtTourist]

This episode's Community Spotlight is on Paris-based mixed media artist fuchsia! Follow fuchsia on Instagram at @alafuchsia, and check out her portfolio at alafuchsia.com

[@grantsmith1146]

Hey are u going to do keith haring next just saying

[@TheArtTourist]

We briefly touch upon Haring in the video linked below but he’ll have to get his own feature eventually. Thanks for watching! m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/amm0dnZshLqXoZY

[@kennedyjopson647]

Obsessed with these videos. Articulate, thorough, stylish, the cat, a total vibe.

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you!

[@burbs7800]

Wow - I had never heard of Aubrey Beardsley by name, but I love his work. Is anyone else familiar with illustrator Edward Gorey? I feel like Beardsley must have been an inspiration for his style.

[@zenape619]

Yes! I just read a book about Gorey, his eerie ink drawings reminded me of Beardsley.

[@gnarbeljo8980]

Without a shred of doubt. Beardsley is very well known in the UK and European art community. Any illustrator/artist is aquainted with his work and life. I think this is news only to young Americans who seem not to be in touch with European history today. Besides maybe that of royalty, vikings and knights of the round table of which romantic exostism seems to have sprung rather than a grounded grasp of the times, culture, values and events. That's my impression at least. I have an old roll of 60s wallpaper covered with repeats of small versions of famous Beardsley illustrations, and a book on him, an old calendar with his work bought at some gift or print shop. He's the bees knees. The narrator needs to read Salome herself at least once. She sorytof missed the obvious sordid erotic intrigue. Go figure 😂

[@tgrazatos3740]

Gorey was a genius! So incredibly talented with the best dark sense of humor. And he probably spawned Tim Burton.

[@tgrazatos3740]

The Ghastlycrumb Tinies!!!

[@chinesecabbagefarmer]

Every single word you speak in your videos to me says, "Keep doing your art! Speak your heart, no matter how strange." It's immensely comforting.

[@teachypicci]

I do love how your clothes remind the historical and artistic period you're talking about in your videos.

[@joelkulesha8284]

The delicacy just jumps off the page! So excited to learn more about this artist! I've never heard of them before. Thank you for the (as always) wonderful video!

[@TheArtTourist]

Thanks for watching!

[@melm4251]

wonderful... his command of line and devastatingly effective character design in the service in storytelling, in my opinion only second (and third ha) to his use of negative space... one of the absolute best to ever do it. Great video, thank you for this!

[@TheArtTourist]

We do love some good negative space. Thank you!

[@ArtReviews]

I was just thinking it seems like a long time since the last Several Circles video when this popped up today. Great video as always!

[@robertgardner1498]

I applaude you for giving us so much on this lesser known, amazing artist. Very well done. Thank you!

[@jimbrittain402]

I'm delighted that the algorithm decided I needed to see your stuff. And you'll consider doing illustrators! How about Tenniel, or Rackham? Huh? Please?

[@TheArtTourist]

So glad you found us! We’ll have to look into your recommendations. Thanks!

[@SuperRussta]

Thank you so much! Aubrey is my favorite artist! The first tattoo I got was a Beardsley piece! Very sad that the pandemic came when there was a big exhibition in London. Love the channel and all the great videos, keep up the great work!

[@TheArtTourist]

A Beardsley tattoo sounds awesome! Thanks for watching!!

[@mdj2061]

Brandon Boyd, the vocalist of band Incubus, has a Aubrey's piece (The peacock skirt) on his arm. It looks wonderful.

[@GreatArtExplained]

This is great - thanks!

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you so much! We’re big fans of your channel :)

[@zzzxxyy]

The original underground artist! Aubrey Beardsley was so far ahead of his time.

[@TL_oS]

Gorgeous video and you are (as always) a brilliant font of Art History education💗Please never stop making videos.

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you so much! ✨We’re thrilled that you enjoyed it :)

[@michaelworkman4057]

Beardsley is a favorite of mine, and he had been for quite a while when I learned to my astonishment that a long-time friend and amateur artist--also a Beardsley--was one of his descendants. But without a link I'm realizing as I type this that I'm just bragging for doing nothing, heh. Another favorite artist of mine with a similar style is the illustrator Harry Clarke. His works famously adorned a popular edition of Edgar Allen Poe''s short stories, "Tales of Mystery and Imagination," a copy of which was a prized possession as a child

[@campbellpaul]

Thank you for this descriptive video. Beautiful controversy.

[@stanisawseczkowski149]

Super opowiadanie o malarstwie Dziękuje 🌞😀❤️

[@hanna1333]

Wow jestem dumna, że ktoś z Polski też się tym geniuszem zainteresował

[@20lazystarlight]

I discovered your channel just today and spent hours listening to your amazing content! You're making me want to learn more and more about art and artists. I was wondering if you can do Holbein, Monet, Manet, Pissarro, Cezanne and Dali. :) I would love to hear you talk about them. The way you present the info is so very engaging. Love it! Thanks!

[@TheArtTourist]

How wonderful to hear, thank you so much! All fantastic suggestions ✨ We plan to feature all of them!

[@Art.Magick]

Wow, really great coverage of an underappreciated rockstar artist. Thank you.

[@nathandensley9104]

Absolutely excellent work. Your research and the way you don't judge the history from a modern lens is truly appreciated.

[@salmanalkhaledi6473]

Huge fan of him, so I was so psyched when I saw you did this. Be did Salome .. like so many did. I love seeing Salome...

[@radiobob1908]

I'm just binge watching everything this channel has ever made.

[@Istari68]

Thank-you! An enjoyable and thoughtful presentation.

[@alsaulso1332]

YOU ARE WONDERFUL!! LOVE IT!!

[@andrewgavinet9595]

Awesome video and great work. His work is instantly recognizable and it’s amazing to see that despite his brief life he left an incredible mark and legacy. Thanks for showing me this

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you for watching! So glad you enjoyed it :)

[@damonschultz4006]

Just found your videos and really love them.

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you!

[@pprehn5268]

Thank you for the biography of this enigmatic character.

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you for watching!

[@Ravenoflight2275]

Beardsley art is wonderfully beautiful and amazingly dark. I like it a lot.

[@dinneratmidnight6196]

His line is sublime!

[@caseymcvay4727]

love it!

[@greysimpson548]

Wow! You introduced me to another great artist! I really love how he handles composition, along with the delicate line work of course. (If you don't mind a suggestion, if you decide to do more videos that relate to artists around the art nouveau period, maybe you could look into artists like Edward Dulac or Kay Nielsen? I haven't seen too much on either of these artists)

[@damonschultz4006]

You should make some on abstract expressionism and impressionism, cubism ,fauves. I wish they were longer too. Great job

[@erinhagle5242]

Your videos are so interesting and informative. I really enjoy watching and learning the great backstories of so many wonderful and varied artists.

[@TheArtTourist]

Thanks so much!

[@eyepatchpirate7726]

Just discovered this channel a few days ago. Very interesting and well-researched vids! Thanks!

[@TheArtTourist]

Glad you found us! Thank you for watching!

[@zigglyDev]

Ok you got me hooked to these videos. I'm programmer and never done art but these stories are so fascinating, it peaks my interest in art and different artists, artstyles.

[@TheArtTourist]

That’s so wonderful to hear, thank you! ✨

[@grrhmaadulyaa7857]

Such excellent elocution.

[@MetalManiaAllTheWay]

Great video. I love the backing track. Something to work on could be the inflections in your cadence. It is often repetative and makes the information difficult to focus on at times.

[@scootrmacl9757]

In all honesty, the first video of yours I watched I clicked on in an attempt to fall asleep. To my surprise however you have opened my eyes to the world of art in a brand new way. These videos are so well done and so entertaining! The fact you don’t already have millions of subscribers is mind boggling because these videos are fantastic! Thank you!

[@TheArtTourist]

What an incredibly kind comment! Thank you!!

[@_ar.ti.facts_byritadrake]

I love your channel!!!❤

[@TheArtTourist]

Thanks!!

[@frame0freference]

Amazing video!

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you!

[@oleksiivoloshyn4194]

With such a warning at the beginning I instantly understand that it's going to be great!

[@sofiamielcitas4224]

i love him i didnt know about his life and influences ❤❤❤ please do a video on gerda wegener !!!

[@Demention94]

For some reason that Lady Talbot painting has a great effect on me. There's a certain intensity to it. Maybe the colors? Her look? Many works I haven't seen here!

[@ForzaStiinta64]

I like the zero disikes. Great video like always.

[@TheArtTourist]

Many thanks!

[@1199gg]

in the playlist

[@lisapierce6832]

I would appreciate a video about an Illustrator named Charles Schneeman. His name is mentioned often in Science fiction literature circles, and he seems to have a small following in the art world, but I am having a hard time researching him.

[@johnburman966]

The sheer skill of his drawing is impressive. This was the time of newspaper illustrations...so much ability everywhere. Hard to find trained artists now who can even draw. We are swamped with digitally created images, which are somehow soulless.

[@TheArtTourist]

Couldn’t agree with you more

Great channel... I subscribe!

[@carloshuante8508]

These are great spotlights…..I’m enjoying all of them…artists I’d love to see covered are one that is very difficult to find anything on…Jan Toorp…another would be Sidney Sime…and two sculptors…Paul Troubetzkoy who has some good stories but I haven’t seen much coverage on him. He was probably the very first impressionist sculptor.. even though Rodin is regarded as the first..in addition Rembrandt Bugatti who’s family were huge contributors to the world at large…..Bugatti and Troubetzkoy are two of the best sculptors of all time…

[@atikurrahman-pn7ei]

Love your videos 😍. Please make a video about Claude Monet.

[@TheArtTourist]

A Monet video is inevitable. Thanks for watching!

[@saivinijhawan3143]

Chanced upon your videos accidentally but I'm so glad I did. Such a precise and insightful commentary. I have had no exposure to art because it looks so high brow and aloof but your content made art accessible to even the least likely. After I started watching your videos I am slowly becoming more and more interested in a form that I considered to be archaic and outdated. Could you take up the following artists as well? - Rene Magritte - Théodore Géricault - Giorgio de Chirico - Georgia O'Keeffe Thank you so much :)

[@TheArtTourist]

So glad you found us! This is exactly why we make these videos so we’re thrilled to hear it. All fantastic suggestions (I’ve been eagerly waiting for some Giorgio de Chirico love!) that are very much on our radar and coming down the pike. Thank you for watching!

[@Photo-Jay]

Yoji Shinkawa and his art I wonder if we'll see here some day. Or is it exclusive to deceased or retired artists O_o

[@MrStevenlynch]

What part of USA does your accent come from?? I am English and have heard it in others and am intrigued??

[@TheArtTourist]

Manhattan, born and raised.

[@jimbrittain402]

One more thing: Please, please, PLEASE tell us who does the excellent portrait animations of the artists at right.

[@TheArtTourist]

That would be Jason, our brilliant producer!

[@cindycarroll2099]

What does a frivolous style after Rafael mean?

[@shiinni7998]

why I can`t find the subtitle?

[@TheArtTourist]

We’re sorry about that. The problem should be fixed now.

[@marxxthespot]

👌👀

[@archiproty]

Suggest having a look at Henry Fuseli (if you haven't already)

[@TheArtTourist]

He’s very high on the list!

[@michaelbenenson]

Long time no see and, hooray, now do on your return with the master of ink and line. Much covered all too quickly. A.B. deserves an hour minimum, especially given his life as the agent provocateur. Morris dismissed his work as "pornagraphic", and though Wilde may have 'sneered' a quip or two, he did wine and dine Beardsley two years before his own arrest, in admiration of A.B.'s talent. There's a much needed look - I do recommend - to sift through the realms of what is seen as obscene and what isn't (bearing in mind that Buddhists in the Himalayas have phallus temples etc), and perhaps an S.C. prog on Eric Gill could formulate a jigsaw one way or the other, not to mention Picasso's own cartoons. Anyway, encore, encore, encore, and more frequently if can. I tried to find your email address to make another extraneous recommendation but cannot for the life off me find any postal button, so I take the liberty here to request a programme on the work of the versatile and prolific Carel Weight. Best, aye - and giant ta, etc MB

[@SanRemoMotelBar]

Jacques Louis David, one day, please!

[@TheArtTourist]

Absolutely!

[@lightbox617]

His best was Lysistrata. Remember the Oscar Wilde quote "Aubrey Beardly is awfully weirdsley."

[@andrewharris7517]

All your videos are Electric!!!! can you do one on Ernie Barnes… I’m sure you’re familiar with his most famous painting The Sugar Shack which was featured on the cover of Marvin Gaye’s Album I want you and the opening and end Credits of The 70s Sitcom Good Times. He was one of the most prolific African American Artists And his elongated style has influenced many other Artists. There are a lot more African American artist like Barclay Hendricks and many others that I’m sure your channel can create Fantastic videos on.. continue the Fantastic content… Inshallah and Peace…

[@TheArtTourist]

We made a Barclay Hendricks video a few years ago. Feel free to check it out!

[@andrewharris7517]

Dig it.. I will look it up .. Now how about that Ernie Barnes video

[@rommie3443]

Do Kerry james Marshall Ferrari Shepard And Aaron Douglas Pls

[@theeskrungly]

Audrey Beardsley: I am going to post my Japanese inspired booba into #general Victorians:

[@TheArtTourist]

Lol

[@herddragon9215]

who feels like starting a revival?

[@lightbox617]

From Wilde. "Aubrey Beardsley is awfully weirdsly."

[@lioneldown5699]

Ah yes, the first doujinsi artist before doujin became a thing.

[@andychilli8718]

Fam is that cat greenscreened in

[@TheArtTourist]

Busted...we were in the process of moving and without kittens that day so we digitally inserted her 😸

[@andychilli8718]

@@TheArtTourist deadass still replying to comments on a video this old? Respect, keep up the good work. Already discovered a handful of sick artists because of this channel.

[@AngelRodriguez-yi6fx]

Do basquiat

[@TheArtTourist]

Already did! m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIvSpJSNmJeDea8

[@bestplayeralive]

Im 7 minutes in have I missed the part where you tell why ihe was influenced by Japanese art? Much like you know every European artist at that time. Idgaf about Japanese art but this far into a video about the figurehead who made that style mainstream for advertising is odd to say the least.

[@apolashimself]

This presentation's mood is very confusing. 😅

[@blablabla63923]

..that “titular” pun tho 🤌🏼💃this was truly informative, and, risking sentimentality, inspirational even: the all-too-aloof muse murmurs again, a deadly kiss 👄

[@carbonc6065]

~Great video.

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you!

[@cindycarroll2099]

What does a frivolous style after Rafael mean?