Hamlet: The Death of Hamlet
1843
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1843
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This black-and-white drawing shows a chaotic scene with five people in a room. One man kneels on the floor, holding a sword, while another lies slumped over. A woman in a long dress stands nearby, reaching out. A man in fancy armor stands to the side, watching. In the background, a child peeks from behind a curtain, and a chandelier hangs from the ceiling. The artist used strong contrasts between light and dark to show drama and emotion. This style was popular in the 1800s. Look up chiaroscuro to learn more about this technique.
