Art Study Center Seminar: Looking Closely at Aubrey Beardsley’s Drawing Techniques

This event is at capacity

The Harvard Art Museums house one of the world’s largest and most important groups of drawings by Aubrey Beardsley (1872–1898). His brilliant and singular style stretched the limits of illustration, pushing the medium toward the abstract curvilinear design principles of art nouveau. Nearly all of the ink drawings by Beardsley in our collections were made to be reproduced as line-block illustrations in books and periodicals. Knowing that his work would be printed in black-and-white, he could be confident that his corrections and faint underdrawing would not be seen. Penley Knipe, Philip and Lynn Straus Conservator of Works on Paper, and Miriam Stewart, Curator of the Collection, in the Division of European and American Art, will focus on Beardsley’s drawing methods, examining his elegant and refined black ink strokes, but also looking “behind” the line.

The seminar will take place in the Art Study Center, Level 4.

Free admission, but capacity is limited to 15 and registration is recommended. To register, please email am_visitorservices@harvard.edu.

Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of the program to allow sufficient time to sign in at the Art Study Center reception desk. Note that there is a wait list for this program; spots unclaimed by 11am will be released to those on the wait list. Please be prepared to present a photo ID.

Lockers are available on the Lower Level, Level 1, and Level 4 to check bags, coats, umbrellas, and any food or drink.