Analysis and Comparison of Aubrey Beardsley’s Illusion and Chinese Ink Operas. Exploration of Commonalities between Chinese and Western Black and White Art (中西方黑白艺术的相通性-分析比较比亚兹莱黑白插画与中国水墨画)

This thesis conducts an analytical comparison of the stylistic features and emotional expressions in Aubrey Beardsley's black and white illustrations and Chinese ink operas, identifying their similarities and reflecting on the commonalities between Eastern and Western art. The evolution of Beardsley's illustrative style is characterized by an initial foundational phase, a mature phase, and a peak phase. The artistic backdrop of the Art Nouveau era, with its decadence and aestheticism, profoundly influenced the style and emotional expression of his work. The development of Chinese ink operas is diverse, primarily manifesting in dynamic changes in composition, contrast, and line, and influenced by the disillusioned scholar-official ideology and the discontented literati of China. The thesis identifies a commonality between the two art forms, attributing this to the prevalence of aestheticism and decadence during Beardsley's time, as well as the popularity of Eastern art in Europe. Moreover, black and white art, under the influence of black and white color psychology, fosters a cross-cultural aesthetic recognition between the East and the West. The thesis topic is inspired by the author's personal long-term practice of Chinese ink operas, coupled with the influence of Western art, leading to the creation of black and white conceptual artworks that explore the commonalities between Eastern and Western art. The author's graduation project, themed "Walking Bones," integrates black and white elements to express the confusion of modern humanity, sharing commonalities with the stylistic and emotional expressions of both Eastern and Western art. Consequently, the thesis compares Eastern and Western black and white art, in conjunction with the author's artistic practice, explores and reflects on the methodology of an artist's creative style and emotional expression, It seeks perspectives and approaches to construct a new pictorial language that converges East and West in the context of globalization.