The artwork is the cover of “Tristan and Isolde”, designed by Aubrey Beardsley, a notable artist associated with the Art Nouveau movement, distinctly modern for its time. The design falls within the genre of artistic design, encompassing elements typical of Beardsley’s style and the Art Nouveau’s aesthetic.
The artwork itself features strong black and white contrasts characteristic of Beardsley’s works, with an emphasis on floral motifs and elegant, curvilinear designs. In the upper portion, the title “TRISTAN VND ISOLDE” is framed in a dark rectangle, where the lettering is surrounded by flower designs that are mirrored on either side, suggesting a sense of balance. Directly below, there is an ornate, leaf-shaped design containing two different flower motifs, one appears to be a closed bud and the other an open bloom. The organic shapes and flow of lines are indicative of the Art Nouveau style that aims to harmonize natural forms and structures with the artistic expression.
