Much of the research on The Yellow Book includes a heavy discussion on Oscar Wilde. This is unsurprising as he was put to trial in 1895, making his association with The Yellow Book a great topic of interest. This happened regardless of Harland's denial of any involvement of Wilde in the project (Ledger 6). As a cultural project which gives place to the avant-garde (Ledger 7), what are we to consider of specific pieces of work themselves?

In a magazine where the visual art was meant to be independent of the literature (Dowling 119), cultural influences connected the works so that readers could find meaning. Both Sleeping Beauty and Under the Moon reflected on beauty in an unpopular light. As the definition of beauty developed, what it means to be feminine and beautiful changed. These works presented beauty as an interpretive form instead of a standard form built for few but advertised to many.