King Lear Casting Out His Daughter Cordelia (Shakespeare, King Lear, Act 1, Scene 1) 1792 - 1852

This print by Richard Earlom captures the charged moment of King Lear banishing Cordelia. Lear's outstretched arm and pointing finger—a gesture of rejection—immediately command our attention. This symbolic act echoes through history, reminiscent of depictions of divine judgment or expulsion. The motif of the rejecting hand finds parallels in ancient Roman art, where emperors signaled disapproval or condemnation with a similar gesture, and further back to the hand of God rejecting Cain in early religious art. This isn't merely a pose; it's a primal expression of power and banishment that resonates deeply within our collective consciousness. The emotional intensity in Cordelia's plea and Lear’s rage taps into something deeply psychological. It’s a theatrical expression of familial discord and betrayal. The viewer is drawn into this moment, forced to confront the raw emotions of love, loss, and the destructive nature of unchecked authority. The image’s symbols and gestures engage us on a subconscious level, making visible the timeless themes of family, power, and human folly.