Skip to main content

Effete Collection

In the late 19th century, a wave of artistic and cultural movements swept across Europe, challenging traditional norms and embracing new forms of expression

Background imageEffete Collection: Aubrey Beardsley, c1893. Creator: Frederick Hollyer

Aubrey Beardsley, c1893. Creator: Frederick Hollyer
Aubrey Beardsley, c1893. Portrait of British artist and eccentric Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898), a leading figure in the aesthetic movement

Background imageEffete Collection: 'Fruits' - painted by George Lance - from the Exhibition of the Royal Academy, 1854

"Fruits" - painted by George Lance - from the Exhibition of the Royal Academy, 1854. Creator: Unknown
"Fruits" - painted by George Lance - from the Exhibition of the Royal Academy, 1854. Lance...has chosen his own motto: "Fresh from the teeming lap of bounteous Earth

Background imageEffete Collection: Comic Postcard - feeble Vicar not tempted by a pretty girl

Comic Postcard - feeble Vicar not tempted by a pretty girl
Comic Postcard - ( My Word !) Get Thee behind me Temptress - a feeble and effete Vicar not tempted by a pretty girl, although one wonders if she is quite his type anyway... 1910

Background imageEffete Collection: A young man playing the Banjolele, Paris, 1920s

A young man playing the Banjolele, Paris, 1920s Date: 1920s

Background imageEffete Collection: Postcard showing three smart, yet effete, French musicians

Postcard showing three smart, yet effete, French musicians. 1920s Date: 1920s

Background imageEffete Collection: Postcard of effete French man, 1920s

Postcard of effete French man, 1920s Date: 1920s

Background imageEffete Collection: Petticoat Lane (pen & ink on paper)

Petticoat Lane (pen & ink on paper)
3082109 Petticoat Lane (pen & ink on paper) by Orpen, William (1878-1931); 21.6x14 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Caricature of Sir Hugh Lane (1875-1915), Irish art dealer

Background imageEffete Collection: English lady receiving surprise visitors in breakfast

English lady receiving surprise visitors in breakfast room, 19th century. Mrs Lucy Somerville curtsies to Mrs Watkins, Mr Willie Watkins, and Miss Watkins. A maid in torn apron opens the door

Background imageEffete Collection: Spoony (coloured engraving)

Spoony (coloured engraving)
3641885 Spoony (coloured engraving) by Bennett, Charles Henry (1828-67); Private Collection; (add.info.: Spoony. Illustration for Shadow and Substance by Charles H Bennett and Robert B Brough)

Background imageEffete Collection: Couple about to kiss, standing by brown horse (colour photo)

Couple about to kiss, standing by brown horse (colour photo)
3093250 Couple about to kiss, standing by brown horse (colour photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Couple about to kiss, standing by brown horse)

Background imageEffete Collection: Platform of Holland Park Underground Station

Platform of Holland Park Underground Station
Central Line Series. A very trendy (and slightly effete) young gentleman stands in very aloof repose, pretending to ignore the glamorous lady to his right

Background imageEffete Collection: A French Family, 1790. Artist: Samuel Alken

A French Family, 1790. Artist: Samuel Alken
A French Family, 1790. An anti-French view of our continental cousins: a dog wearing clothes, a man with an effete hairstyle, a child showing her legs

Background imageEffete Collection: An Englishmans Home by Guy du Maurier

An Englishmans Home by Guy du Maurier. First produced at the Wyndhams Theatre on 27th January 1909. Guy du Maurier was brother of the actor Gerald, and uncle of the novelist, Daphne

Background imageEffete Collection: Fashionable gentleman aping the Frenchman

Fashionable gentleman aping the Frenchman
A satirical illustration about fashion for English gentlemen aping extreme French fashions in revolutionary France. This affected gentleman wears a Parisian-style tall hat

Background imageEffete Collection: Zachary Zakarian, c. 1885 (pastel on board)

Zachary Zakarian, c. 1885 (pastel on board)
XIR238651 Zachary Zakarian, c.1885 (pastel on board) by Degas, Edgar (1834-1917); 40x38 cm; Private Collection; French, out of copyright



For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

In the late 19th century, a wave of artistic and cultural movements swept across Europe, challenging traditional norms and embracing new forms of expression. One such movement was symbolized by Aubrey Beardsley, whose intricate illustrations captured the essence of an effete era. With his delicate lines and provocative subject matter, Beardsley's work epitomized the decadence and refinement that characterized this period. Fast forward to the 1920s in Paris, where a young man strums on a Banjolele with effortless charm. His dapper attire exudes sophistication, yet there is an undeniable air elegance surrounding him. He embodies the spirit of this vibrant city - avant-garde yet refined. Moving further into this captivating time period, we stumble upon postcards featuring three impeccably dressed French musicians. Their appearance suggests refinement beyond measure; their music resonates with gracefulness and poise, and are undoubtedly partaking in the effete culture that permeated every aspect of life during those years. As we delve deeper into these postcards from the 1920s, one particular image stands out - an effete French man gazes back at us through time. His perfectly coiffed hair and meticulously groomed mustache speak volumes about his attention to detail. The photograph captures not only his physical appearance but also his aura of cultivated sophistication. These series of postcards transport us to a world where elegance reigned supreme - where men embraced their own sense of style without fear or judgment. Each card showcases another facet of what it meant to be "effete" during this remarkable era: refined tastes, impeccable fashion sense, and an appreciation for all things cultured. Through these glimpses into history captured by Frederick Hollyer's lens or preserved on vintage postcards, we can't help but marvel at how effortlessly these individuals embodied what it meant to be "effete.