Abysm of Time - from The Tempest 

Edmund Dulac created this watercolor and ink illustration titled "Abysm of Time" for Shakespeare’s play *The Tempest.* Dulac was part of a generation of artists who looked to fairy tales and folklore for inspiration. Here, we see the character Miranda, who has lived on an island isolated from society for most of her life. Consider the complex power dynamics at play. Miranda’s father, Prospero, controls her life. In many ways, Miranda reflects the constrained role of women in the Edwardian era in which Dulac was working. Her captivity is not just physical; it’s also about her limited social and intellectual horizons. The ocean’s vastness can be seen as mirroring Miranda’s internal world. She is caught between innocence and a yearning for knowledge. Dulac captures this pivotal moment of awakening. As viewers, we are invited to reflect on our own positions within the tempests of life and history.