The Enchanted Island Before the Cell of Prospero - Prospero, Miranda, Caliban and Ariel (Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act 1, Scene 2) 1797 - 1852

Peter Simon created this print, "The Enchanted Island Before the Cell of Prospero," circa late 18th to early 19th century. The monochromatic image is arranged with Prospero and Miranda on the left, counterposed against Caliban on the right, while the ethereal Ariel floats above. This stark division immediately sets up a binary. Simon masterfully uses light and shadow to enhance the drama. The contrast between the dark, cavernous setting and the burst of light illuminating Ariel and Caliban highlights a tension between the natural and the supernatural. Prospero's pointing gesture directs our gaze, implicating us in this constructed drama. Structurally, the composition underlines the themes of power and subjugation inherent in Shakespeare's play. Simon uses formal elements to destabilize the established meanings of civilization versus savagery, inviting us to question the power dynamics at play within the narrative. It’s a potent commentary on the fluid and often deceptive nature of representation itself.