Prospero, Miranda, and Caliban, from The Tempest c. 1786

George Romney created this graphite drawing, Prospero, Miranda, and Caliban, from The Tempest, at an unknown date. The stark contrast between the light figures and the shadowed backdrop immediately commands our attention, evoking a sense of drama and unease. Romney's use of line is particularly striking. Fluid, ethereal strokes define the forms of Prospero and Miranda, while harsher, more angular lines sculpt the figure of Caliban. These formal choices are not merely aesthetic; they also function as a semiotic system, visually encoding the characters' roles and relationships within the play. Consider how Romney uses the contrast between light and shadow to suggest the interplay between power and subjugation. The stark chiaroscuro invites us to reflect on the play's themes of colonialism, control, and the complexities of human nature. The drawing destabilizes simple binaries, prompting deeper questions about representation, power, and the human condition.