The artwork, titled “Caricature of Felix Mendelssohn,” was created by Aubrey Beardsley in 1896. This piece, rendered using the medium of lithography, belongs to the Art Nouveau movement, specifically within the genre of caricature. It is currently housed at the Fogg Museum, part of the Harvard Art Museums in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
The artwork is a striking black and white caricature of Felix Mendelssohn, accentuating his features in an exaggerated manner typical of caricature. Mendelssohn is depicted sitting in a stylized chair, adorned with elaborate decorative elements. His distinctively large head and facial features are the focal points, with large eyes, a pronounced nose, and voluminous hair. He is shown holding a quill, suggesting a moment of creation or contemplation, with Beardsley’s initials “AB” subtly integrated into the composition. The surrounding environment features ornate designs, characteristic of the Art Nouveau style, which adds a layer of intricate detail to the overall composition.
