Aubrey Beardsley, the exhibition at the Musée d'Orsay - closed

His style is instantly recognizable, his name perhaps less so. The Musée d'Orsay is dedicating a retrospective to the illustrator Aubrey Beardsley. This English illustrator, who died at the age of 25, left behind a wealth of drawings and illustrations for famous novels. From October 13, 2020 to January 10, 2021, discover over a hundred original works by this unjustly forgotten artist.

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Theexhibition presents, in chronological order,Aubrey Beardsley's original drawings, as well as posters and original editions of the works in which the illustrations were published. These black-and-white drawings feature rounded characters. The artist cultivated a unique, non-conformist and sometimes erotic style. The works are not lacking inhumor, and draw us into a festive, chic atmosphere, reflecting the London society in which Aubrey Beardsley evolved.

The drawings on show are appreciated for their artistic merit alone, but they are also of great interest to lovers of history or literature (or even both). The cartoonist worked for various newspapers and magazines, and illustrated the novels of great writers: he collaborated with Oscar Wilde, Théophile Gautier and the poet Alexander Pope.

The retrospective also gives pride of place to theLysistrata series, a series of burlesque drawings revolving around women's revolt, a certain liberation of sexuality and gender inversion. Through her work, the artist reflects surprisingly modern themes and positions, at odds with the norms of the time. Her style varies, with illustrations that are sometimes sober and sometimes full of detail. These works of art nouveau also reflect, and sometimes criticize, English society at the end of the 19th century.

Please note that this exhibition is not suitable for children: Aubrey Beardsley enjoyed great success with his erotic and irreverent drawings. While adults will often find them amusing, these drawings can be the start of awkward discussions with younger children.

Aubrey Breadsley is a retrospective not to be missed. The exhibition comes to us straight from Tate Britain, where it was on show before the coronavirus confinement. Don't miss it, and don't forget to take a look at the Léon Spilliaert exhibition, on view at the same time at the Musée d'Orsay.