“The Dancer’s Reward” is an illustration created by the artist Aubrey Beardsley in 1894. Beardsley’s work here is a linocut piece, a medium belonging to the printmaking family, and embodies the aesthetic of the Art Nouveau movement, which was known for its stylized forms and decorative patterns that emerged at the turn of the 20th century. The piece is considered a part of the Modern era in art history and is currently held in a private collection.
The artwork depicts a highly stylized female figure garbed in a dark, elegant dress with intricate patterns and a loose shawl or cloak. She appears to be leaning over a platter that rests on a slim stand. Her posture is stoic, almost haughty, and she gazes downward. Notably, the platter bears a severed head, suggesting a narrative element to the illustration. The head itself has a peaceful facial expression and a cascade of hair that flows onto the platter and down the stand. The stark contrast of black and white in the image, along with the elegant, flowing lines and patterns of the figure’s attire, are characteristic of Beardsley’s style and the Art Nouveau movement. The artwork is void of middle tones, relying on the starkness of the black ink against the paper to create the image. The surrounding space is left plain, further highlighting the subject matter. The only other object in the scene is a discarded shoe at the lower-right corner, which adds a further sense of narrative or symbolism to the piece.
