Othello before 1876

This is Alfred Brewer's photographic interpretation of Shakespeare's "Othello", capturing a pivotal moment of jealousy and impending doom. Here, we see Desdemona and Emilia above, with Othello below them in a scene that encapsulates the tragedy's core: the handkerchief, a potent symbol of love and fidelity, becomes an instrument of deceit. The image recalls similar compositions throughout art history where a central object becomes the focal point of emotional turmoil, like the apple in depictions of the Judgement of Paris. Notice how the handkerchief, though small, looms large psychologically. Its presence evokes the ‘pathos formula’—a gesture that conveys intense emotional states. The scene taps into collective anxieties about betrayal, echoing through centuries in various artistic forms. The power of the image lies in how it resonates with deeply ingrained cultural memories and subconscious fears, engaging us in the cyclical recurrence of human tragedy.