Bon Mots and Grotesques

Urban wit on life, art and culture from one of the leading artists and celebrities of the decadent era, Aubrey Beardsley, with drawings from his Grotesque series.

''To critics who said that the full-lipped so-called ''Beardsley mouth'', which adorned many of his women, was ''inexpressive and ugly'', the artist countered, ''Well, let them criticise. It''s my mouth and not theirs. I like big mouths. People like the little mouth - the "Dolly Varden" mouth, if that describes it better. A big mouth is the sign of character and strength. Look at Ellen Terry with her great, strong mouth. In fact, I haven''t any patience with small-mouthed people.'' ''The popular idea of a picture is something told in oil or writ in water to be hung on a room''s wall or in a picture gallery to perplex an artless public.'' ''To my mind, there is nothing so depressing as a Gothic cathedral. I hate to have the sun shut out by the saints.'' ''What a nice ample creature George Sand is: like a wonderful old cow with all her calves.'' And other witty, urbane insights on life, art, and culture, illustrated with selected drawings from his Grotesques series.