Viola and Olivia 1822

Robert Smirke created this watercolor and pen drawing, “Viola and Olivia,” during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a time when Shakespearean themes were often explored in art. Smirke depicts a scene from "Twelfth Night", where Viola, disguised as a man, woos Olivia on behalf of Duke Orsino. We see Viola, in disguise, delivering a message to Olivia. Gender and identity are at the core of this scene, where societal expectations are questioned through Viola's cross-dressing. The emotional complexity of the play, with its themes of love, deception, and mistaken identity, is somewhat muted in Smirke's classical rendering. By choosing this particular scene, Smirke engages with the complexities of gender roles and romantic desire, reflecting the ongoing cultural negotiation of these issues. It’s a narrative that invites us to reflect on the shifting sands of identity, and the ever-present search for love and acceptance.