The Infant Shakespeare Nursed by Comedy and Tragedy 1783

This sketch was made by George Romney, a British portrait painter who lived in the 18th century. We see an infant Shakespeare being suckled by two women, allegorical figures of Comedy and Tragedy. Masks, ancient signifiers of the theater, are present, representing the dual nature of drama. This theme of duality echoes through time. Think of the Janus figure from Roman mythology, a two-faced god looking both to the past and future, embodying transitions, beginnings, and endings. The masks of Comedy and Tragedy remind us that human existence contains both joy and sorrow. Such imagery also recalls ancient fertility rituals, where the union of opposing forces ensured the continuity of life. In this drawing, the nurturing act combines jest and lament, mirroring the cyclical nature of human experience. The masks allow us to delve into the collective unconscious, where ancient archetypes exert their influence on creativity. The idea of theater is thus presented as a powerful psychological force. The masks are not static, and continue to shift and evolve within a larger continuum.