William Thomas Horton (1864-1919) is a classic black-and-white Symbolist illustrator in the style of Aubrey Beardsley — with whom Horton was friends.
![By the Canal- Illustration by William Thomas Horton](https://blog.myarthaus.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/horton-01.jpg)
By the Canal
Horton’s drawings use a lot of dramatic hatching, which in some cases is almost scribble-like. This close, loose hatching makes the details more shadowy and implied. In the darker areas, it’s only a few lines of white space which suggest the form, which is a cool effect. A few of the drawings are more minimalist with large areas of solid black.
These illustrations are inspired by the artist’s dreams, and they are symbolic and mystical. They feature lots of gothic castles and cathedrals, and several of the landscapes are filled with building spires. Some of these are real locations, such Notre Dame de Paris, while others are imaginary. The drawings also show medieval-inspired figures.
In the introduction to this collection of Horton’s illustrations, W. B. Yeats (also a contemporary and friend of Horton) writes: “(His images) will probably be always but few; for he who is content to copy common life need never repeat an image … but there must always be a certain monotony in the work of the Symbolist, who can only make symbols out of the things that he loves.”
“Even the phantastic landscapes, the entangled chimneys against a white sky, the dark valley with its little points of light, the cloudy and fragile towns and churches, are part of the history of a soul; for Mr. Horton tells me that he has made them spectral, to make himself feel all things but a waking dream,” Yeats says.
![Temptation- Illustration by William Thomas Horton](https://blog.myarthaus.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/horton-13.jpg)
Temptation
![Chateau Ultime- Illustration by William Thomas Horton](https://blog.myarthaus.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/horton-02.jpg)
Chateau Ultime
![Mammon- Illustration by William Thomas Horton](https://blog.myarthaus.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/horton-12.jpg)
Mammon
![All Thy Waves Are Gone Over Me- Illustration by William Thomas Horton](https://blog.myarthaus.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/horton-11.jpg)
All Thy Waves Are Gone Over Me
![The Viaduct- Illustration by William Thomas Horton](https://blog.myarthaus.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/horton-10.jpg)
The Viaduct
![The Gap- Illustration by William Thomas Horton](https://blog.myarthaus.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/horton-09.jpg)
The Gap
![Nocturne- Illustration by William Thomas Horton](https://blog.myarthaus.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/horton-08.jpg)
Nocturne
![The Wave- Illustration by William Thomas Horton](https://blog.myarthaus.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/horton-07.jpg)
The Wave
![La Rue Des Petits-Toits- Illustration by William Thomas Horton](https://blog.myarthaus.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/horton-06.jpg)
La Rue Des Petits-Toits
![Trees Walking- Illustration by William Thomas Horton](https://blog.myarthaus.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/horton-05.jpg)
Trees Walking
![Notre Dame de Paris- Illustration by William Thomas Horton](https://blog.myarthaus.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/horton-04.jpg)
Notre Dame de Paris
![The Old Pier- Illustration by William Thomas Horton](https://blog.myarthaus.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/horton-03.jpg)
The Old Pier
Via Socks