William Shakespeare 1849

Curator: Samuel Cousins created this mezzotint engraving of William Shakespeare, a portrait now held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The dramatic chiaroscuro gives it a real sense of gravitas, doesn't it? The stark contrasts heighten the detail. Curator: Absolutely. Cousins masterfully uses light and shadow to emphasize the facial features. Notice how the eyes seem to follow you. Editor: It's clearly intended to convey authority and intellect. The image seems very deliberate in its construction. It's about Shakespeare the icon, really. Curator: I agree; by the time Cousins was working, Shakespeare had become a British cultural touchstone, and this image reflects that elevation. Editor: It is an interesting look into the way the culture wanted to present Shakespeare in the period. Curator: It certainly is, an iconic image, carefully constructed and deeply revealing of the relationship between the artist and the subject.