Lady Macbeth; ‘“Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers…,’ Act II, Scene II, Macbeth 

Edwin Austin Abbey created this image of Lady Macbeth using watercolor and gouache on paper. You can see the artist's hand clearly in the washes and the application of the paint. Lady Macbeth is painted with fairly loose strokes, particularly noticeable in her dress and face. Note how Abbey employed watercolor techniques to build up layers of color and texture, creating a sense of depth and drama in the scene. The medium lends itself to a certain degree of spontaneity, which Abbey captures effectively, but this approach might be seen as closer to illustration than the grand scale of history painting. While watercolor and gouache might seem modest compared to oil painting, the artist uses them to explore intense psychological themes. Abbey's choice wasn't accidental; watercolor allowed for efficient production, and was more accessible to a wider audience through reproduction. This print would be an item of consumption for middle class families, allowing them to engage with scenes from Shakespeare in an intimate setting. In understanding art, materials and the context in which they were made challenge traditional boundaries.