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Shakespeare and His Contemporaries

James Faed

1859

ink

paperboard

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Shakespeare and His Contemporaries is a 1859 ink by James Faed, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: James Faed
When & what style?: 1859 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This black-and-white scene shows a group of men gathered in a room with fancy woodwork and a fireplace. Some sit at a table, others stand or lean nearby, all dressed in old-fashioned clothes with ruffled collars and hats. One man sits alone, looking relaxed, while others talk or gesture around him. The room feels cozy but grand, with books and a tablecloth visible. The artist used a technique called *engraving*, where lines are carved into metal to create the image. This method makes the details sharp and the tones smooth, even in black and white. Look up *engraving* next to see how this process works.