"He smothers her": plate 13 from Othello (Act 5, Scene 2) 1844 - 1900

Théodore Chassériau’s "He smothers her" is a dramatic lithograph depicting the final scene of Shakespeare's Othello. The artist's keen eye for detail and use of chiaroscuro in this powerful image portrays Othello murdering Desdemona. The scene is set in a bedroom with a curtain drawn behind the couple, adding a sense of intimacy and tragedy. Chassériau's masterful use of line and shadow creates a sense of urgency and horror, encapsulating the climax of this iconic literary work. The lithograph, a popular art form in the 19th century, was intended to be a reproduction, making this image accessible to a wider audience.