"Oh! that this too too solid flesh would melt." c. 1791

Curator: Allow me to introduce James Gillray's etching, titled "'Oh! that this too too solid flesh would melt.'" It was designed around 1791 for the Shakespeare Gallery. The piece, executed as a print on paper, resides here at the Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: Well, right off the bat, it hits you, doesn't it? The... heft of it all! The sheer roundness of these characters, caught in such a peculiar tableau. I’m chuckling already! There’s such theatricality to it. Curator: Gillray was a master of caricature. The exaggeration is, of course, deliberate, to highlight not just physical, but also societal or moral qualities. Think of it as visual shorthand for the follies of the era. Editor: Follies indeed! The woman, seemingly unmoved, as this cherubic man clutches her hand—almost desperately, one might add—it is the essence of comedy! But, under the surface, I see something melancholic. Maybe the Hamlet quote gives it away. Curator: The quote points us to the disillusionment within the play and, likely, to anxieties regarding appearances, class, and the pursuit of the unattainable. Remember, caricature exaggerates, but it also reveals something we might otherwise miss. The 'solid flesh' perhaps represents societal expectations or material desires weighing one down. Editor: Hmm. Solid expectations do weigh heavy. Maybe it is all the doughnuts or expectations gone wrong. But the print style… almost delicate despite the plump subject matter. Curator: Gillray's etching technique allows for remarkably fine lines and details, which contrast with the broadness of the figures. That duality adds to the complexity; humor alongside underlying social critique. Editor: And isn't that life itself? Light and shadow dancing together? Even the saddest Hamlet line gets a bit of a belly laugh here. It seems the artwork embraces contradictions. Curator: Absolutely. It’s a snapshot of a moment—a feeling—made timeless through caricature. A commentary as relevant today as it was then. Editor: Agreed! Looking at Gillray's scene reminds me of the absurd playfulness and depth bubbling under even the most rigid appearances, it gives you permission to laugh—or maybe just breathe a little easier!