Schlafende Hermia nach rechts c. 1867 - 1868

Paul Konewka rendered "Schlafende Hermia nach rechts", or "Sleeping Hermia to the Right," as a delicate sketch, his wispy lines bringing Shakespeare's character to life. Konewka, born in 1840, lived in a time when women were often portrayed as passive figures in art and literature. Hermia, from "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," embodies the constraints placed on women, particularly around love and marriage. In Shakespeare's tale, she faces familial and societal pressures to marry someone she doesn't love. Konewka's choice to depict her asleep can be read as more than a simple illustration. It invites a sense of vulnerability, of a woman caught in the intricate web of expectations, perhaps dreaming of freedom. The ethereal quality of Konewka's sketch allows us to consider the internal lives of women, their dreams, and their struggles. By inviting us into Hermia's dreamscape, Konewka subtly acknowledges the emotional complexities of a woman's life in a patriarchal society.