This is plate no. 38 from Érotiques de Beardsley, a French posthumous edition published in Paris by Éditions Les Yeux Ouverts around the mid-20th century. It features an original lithograph by Aubrey Beardsley (1872–1898), a British illustrator known for his erotic and fantastical works created during the fin de siècle.
The image shows a young nude male walking among tall, slender trees and dense floral growth. He appears calm, almost dreamlike, as he touches a tree and moves through the forest. Grapevines, flowers, and stylized plants frame his body, creating a vertical, almost sacred space. The top right corner includes a small blank panel—possibly intended for a chapter number or title—which suggests this could be a book illustration or vignette.
Beardsley’s use of black ink and negative space gives the scene a flat but highly decorative look, influenced by Japanese prints and the Art Nouveau movement. The delicate balance between figure and foliage creates a mood of sensuality, innocence, and quiet temptation. Unlike his more provocative pieces, this image leans toward poetic eroticism rather than visual shock.
This lithograph demonstrates Beardsley’s gift for blending storytelling with symbolism. It may relate to his illustrations for The Story of Venus and Tannhäuser or Under the Hill, both projects that explored classical myth and fantasy with erotic undertones. The figure’s youth and vulnerability echo themes often found in the work of Symbolist writers and artists of the time.
Though the edition is unnumbered and likely produced for general sale, it remains a desirable collector’s item for lovers of Beardsley’s work. Similar visual approaches can be seen in the art of Franz von Bayros or Félicien Rops, both of whom also explored sensuality through refined, linear drawing styles.
No products in the cart.