Nick Bottom mit Eselskopf, gehend, einen Arm leicht nach vorn gestreckt c. 1867 - 1868

Paul Konewka sketched “Nick Bottom mit Eselskopf, gehend, einen Arm leicht nach vorn gestreckt” at an unknown date. The drawing depicts a character from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and it reflects the enduring appeal of Shakespeare within 19th-century German culture. Konewka, a German-Polish artist, demonstrates the fusion of literary and visual culture in the 1800s. Shakespeare’s plays were embraced across Europe, becoming a staple in theaters and inspiring countless artworks. Here, we see Nick Bottom, transformed with an ass’s head, a comical figure whose plight speaks to themes of identity and transformation. The image prompts us to consider the institutions that elevated Shakespeare to canonical status, such as schools, theaters, and museums, and invites us to reflect on how the meanings of Shakespeare's characters evolve through diverse interpretations across time and cultures. Historians would look at theater programs, critical essays, and visual culture archives to understand the place of Shakespeare within the cultural landscape of Konewka's time.