Costume Studies for Sophocles’ ‘Oedipus Tyrannus’ 1584 - 1585

These costume studies for Sophocles’ ‘Oedipus Tyrannus’ were made by Paolo Veronese, who died in 1588. The drawing presents us with a series of figures, each delineated with a sense of fluid movement and dynamic energy, which is heightened by the artist's use of rapid, calligraphic lines and delicate washes. The composition captures the essence of figures in the round, their drapes and gestures suggesting a play of light and shadow. Veronese skillfully destabilizes the conventional by imbuing his characters with an expressiveness that transcends mere costume design. These sketches convey not just form but a symbolic language. Note the artist’s use of drapery to reveal form. Each carefully placed fold and contour hints at the psychological depth of the characters within Sophocles’ tragedy. The artist's strategic interplay between negative space and line challenges the viewer to engage with the artwork on multiple levels of interpretation, in a semiotic dialogue between text and image. The very structure embodies the tragic tensions of Oedipus’ tale.