Costume Design for Tubal in ‘The Merchant of Venice’ 1918

Curator: This is Charles Ricketts's costume design for Tubal in Shakespeare's ‘The Merchant of Venice’, part of the Tate Collections. Editor: The watercolour rendering gives it a lightness which is so at odds with the gravity I associate with the character. Curator: The design was likely intended for a specific production, placing it within the history of theatrical representation and the evolving visual interpretations of Shakespearean characters. Editor: It's interesting how the peacock feather motifs, so meticulously drawn, suggest a certain decadence, a visual representation of wealth and perhaps even vanity. The application of watercolour here is also quite delicate. Curator: Indeed, and this design would have influenced the actor's portrayal, contributing to the audience's understanding of Tubal's role within the play's complex themes of prejudice and justice. Editor: Considering the materiality, the choice of watercolor may also suggest the ephemeral nature of theatre itself, a fleeting moment of performance and interpretation.