Early Life and Career Aubrey Vincent Beardsley (1872-1898) was born in Brighton, Sussex, England, on August 21st, 1872. His mother, Eliza Swanston Beardsley, instilled in him a love for art and literature from a young age—a nurturing influence that contrasted sharply with the pervasive gloom of his personal life. Despite facing significant hardship due to recurrent bouts of tuberculosis throughout his adolescence, Beardsley persevered, honing his artistic skills through diligent study and experimentation. His early career involved freelance illustration work, primarily focusing on satirical s…