http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ae/Dozing_Green_-_Dir_en_grey.png

Yes, Austen’s early work is very similar to HC’s but then Clarke was imitating Beardsley as well although he gradually developed his own particular style. Beardsley’s influence was huge from 1890 onwards, there was even a magazine called Black and White running for a while, devoted to that kind of art. I usually see it more as a sub-genre of the art of the time, rather like the post-Pre Raphaelite Medievalism that was also very common during that period.

If you like Mr. Yamamoto’s work you should check out this guy, brought to my attention on a post about Audrey Kawasaki’s artwork:

http://www.boingboing.net/2007/07/29/vania_zouravliovs_il.html

He’s a russian illustrator recently inducted into Big Active’s stable of talent. There’s a comprehensive selection of his work on their website but the link above got me hook, line and sinker, especially with the first and last images posted. Hope you agree.

Incidentally, I was fairly horrified when you introduced me to the art of John Austen earlier this year. Surely the estate of Harry Clarke should’ve sued his plagiarist arse off? Looking at the various web sources for his output, in picture after picture I was thinking ‘oh yes, that bit’s from Clarke’s Faust, that bit’s from Tales of Mystery and Imagination and Oh look – that’s from a stained glass window! Not to mention the borrowings from Kay Nielsen – but I digress… go and feast your eyes on the gorgeous and perverse intricacies of Zouravliov.