Hamlet, Act III, Scene 2: The Trap, as played in 1778 in Berlin 1780

Curator: This print by Daniel Berger captures "Hamlet, Act III, Scene 2: The Trap," as performed in Berlin in 1778. The dimensions of the image with border is 22.6 x 27 cm. Editor: The staged play feels intensely performative, but also claustrophobic. All those figures crammed onto the stage, observing, judging. Curator: Berger's print invites us to consider the performative aspects of power itself. The royal court, the play within a play—all reflect the surveillance culture and social hierarchy of the time. Editor: The symbols are intriguing—the statue of the reclining figure in the background and the posture of the man prostrate on the floor. They recall classical depictions of death and submission. Curator: Indeed, it raises questions about how the construction of public image intersects with personal and political agency. Editor: It makes you wonder what readings Berlin audiences brought to this performance. I find the print intriguing from a historical perspective. Curator: Agreed. It's a powerful visual document offering layered perspectives on performance and power dynamics.