Edmund Kean as Richard III 1815 - 1833

Curator: Oh, my. Just look at the sheer melodrama of it all! What strikes you first about this print? Editor: Well, it’s quite stark, isn't it? A potent image. There’s a palpable sense of defiance radiating from the figure; he's coiled and ready to strike. What do we know about the work itself? Curator: This is “Edmund Kean as Richard III” by John Byrne, made between 1815 and 1833. It's an engraving, currently residing at The Met. A striking portrayal of the famous actor in character. What do you make of its context? Editor: Considering its time, it reflects a burgeoning interest in celebrity culture and the romanticisation of historical figures, especially those with morally ambiguous complexities like Richard III. Kean himself was a controversial figure, known for his intense and unpredictable performances – something this print captures quite well, actually. Curator: It absolutely does. There’s such a swagger and almost dangerous energy in Byrne’s rendering. The exaggerated pose, the gleam of the sword. What do you think about the choice to depict him mid-performance? Editor: It’s deliberate. This is a conscious elevation of the actor. Theatre provided an important space to explore themes that were suppressed in other spheres. By immortalising Kean in this villainous role, it is also a critical engagement with power and corruption and performance—real world performances too. Curator: Interesting. It makes me wonder about the audience. What did seeing this image mean to them? How much did Kean *become* Richard III in the popular imagination? Was it dangerous? Liberating? All those things at once, perhaps? It certainly makes me question the relationship between art and artist. The rendering feels almost collaborative. Editor: Exactly. This piece encapsulates the intertwined nature of theatre, politics, and public perception in early 19th-century Britain. Curator: A potent image, indeed. I find myself wanting to know more about both men after seeing this. Editor: Precisely! It’s an invitation to reflect on history and its players, both on and off stage.