Hamlet; Act IV, Scene V 1792

Benjamin West painted this dramatic scene from Hamlet using oil on canvas. Notice how West uses a theatrical composition, arranging the figures as if on a stage, with a strong emphasis on gesture and expression. Ophelia, in her madness, is the focal point. Her flowing white gown contrasts with the rich, dark colours of the court, visually marking her as separate and vulnerable. West employs a dynamic, diagonal composition, drawing our eye from Ophelia to the seated King and Queen. The texture of the paint is smooth, creating a polished, almost idealized finish, typical of Neoclassical painting. Ophelia’s dishevelled appearance and unconstrained behaviour challenge the norms of courtly decorum. She destabilizes the ordered, hierarchical structure of the court. West uses visual means to explore the disruption of reason and order by madness and emotion. The painting’s enduring power lies in its ability to evoke empathy for Ophelia. As well as to highlight the precariousness of the human psyche when confronted with trauma and loss.