Bolingbroke, costume sketch for King Richard II 

Edwin Austin Abbey made this costume sketch of Bolingbroke for King Richard II using pastel on paper. The color palette is limited to blues, yellows, and browns, which gives the sketch a subdued and historical feel. The composition is vertically oriented, focusing on the figure's costume. The long robe and large sleeves dominate the form, with the overall structure creating a contrast between the dark, solid blues and the brighter yellows. The vertical lines emphasize the figure's height, but there's also a sense of flatness, as the sketch doesn't aim for deep perspectival space. This work can be read as a system of signs, where color and form serve to communicate information about character and status within the play. The use of pastel lends the image a soft, almost dreamlike quality, which destabilizes the traditional idea of portraiture.