Vision

John Austen — Vision — 1919

Bridging Styles

Just two more John Austen drawings for now. Both of them sort of bridging between his old and his later styles. The color image is luscious for its use of dark, yet bold, palette.

A Lady of the Court

From Perrault's Fairy Tales—BlueBeard

Filigree

The 'filigree' of ornament is fascinating to study in this depiction of Scheherezade by John Austen.

At His Best

John Austen was at his best with Hamlet in 1922.

Here is Act IV Scene 7.

Sort of astounding imagery for the time and the medium.

Another Austen

Another fabulous pen and ink graphic by John Austen for the 1922 Hamlet, featuring (you guessed it) Ophelia!

Grand Style

John Austen had a grand style when he illustrated a bee-youtiful edition of Hamlet, from 1922. His style was influenced by Beardsley and was akin to Harry Clarke. Later, his style and technique evolved into something less ornate and more caricaturized.

This pen drawing is from Hamlet, Act III Scene 2. And then I just had to zoom in on details.