Titania and Oberon c. 1867 - 1868

Paul Konewka's sketch captures Titania and Oberon, the fairy royalty from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Their figures, lightly sketched, evoke a world of dreams and the subconscious. Fairies, as symbols, carry a heavy cultural weight. They represent a liminal space between the real and the imagined, reflecting primal fears and desires. We see echoes of these winged beings throughout history, from ancient nature spirits to the seductive succubi of medieval lore. Their allure lies in their detachment from human morality, offering a glimpse into the untamed aspects of our psyche. Here, their intertwining forms may evoke a sense of love, but also of the hidden tensions that simmer beneath the surface, mirroring the complex emotional landscape of human relationships. These figures resurface through history, not merely as characters in a play, but as embodiments of our deepest psychological yearnings.