Title-page for ‘Baron Munchausen’

Artist: William Strang

1895

Photomechanical reproduction of a pen and ink drawing

9 x 6 inches

Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen.

This illustration exemplifies Strang’s chameleon-like capacity to work in diverse styles, this time deploying the conventions of Art Nouveau in the manner of Aubrey Beardsley. The bold contrasts of black and white, in flattened space, are juxtaposed with the emblematic creature of the 90s – the peacock, which stands for the Wildean appreciation of beauty and sophistication. Some critics thought Strang’s ability to change idioms to be a sign of versatility, others regarded it as vacuous – the strategy of an artist without a clear identity or sense of direction. [Click on the image to enlarge it, and mouse over the text for links.]