Caliban from the portfolio Visions of Shakespeare (Shakespeare Visionen) 1918

Alfred Kubin made this drawing of Caliban as part of a portfolio inspired by Shakespeare. Look at those marks made with ink, a technique with a rich history, think Goya, or Daumier. It’s fascinating to think about how Kubin wrestled with Shakespeare’s themes, the way he reimagined Caliban through this image. The character is all scratchy lines, like he's emerging from the very earth of the island itself. He’s hauling something—a burden, a treasure, or maybe it's just the weight of existence. The lines are urgent, restless; they suggest a mind teeming with visions, grappling with the raw, untamed aspects of human nature. There’s something about the way Kubin renders the character that feels deeply personal, like he’s not just illustrating a character, but channeling something primal and universal through Caliban's form. It is like the artist is asking what it means to be human, or not quite.