Titelblad med vignet til S. Richardson: "Miss Clarissa Harlowes Historie", fjerde del 1783

This is a title page with vignette for the fourth part of S. Richardson’s “Miss Clarissa Harlowe’s History,” created by Georg Christian Schule in 1786. It’s a work of stark contrasts, with a composition structured by the tension between text and image. The title, rendered in assertive gothic script, dominates the upper half, creating a dense, almost impenetrable block. Below, a circular vignette, bordered by delicate wreaths, offers a glimpse into the narrative's emotional core. The scene is dimly lit, casting long shadows that heighten the drama. Schule uses light not just to illuminate but to obscure, drawing our attention to the psychological states of the figures. The print challenges the fixed meanings, blurring the lines between the textual and the visual, inviting us to interpret how each element shapes the other, and how the form itself contributes to the story's unfolding tragedy.