Pandarus and Cressida (Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida, Act 1, Scene 2) 1825 - 1840

Henry Corbould created this print, "Pandarus and Cressida", in the 19th century. Note how the artist uses a tight composition to focus our attention on the figures of Pandarus and Cressida, with the architecture and soldiers serving as a backdrop. Corbould employs hatching and cross-hatching techniques to create tonal variations in the absence of colour. The contrast between light and shadow defines form, texture and depth, thereby drawing out an emotional response. The figures are rendered with classical idealism, reflecting the period’s interest in both Shakespearean drama and classical aesthetics. Cressida’s pose and attire, for example, might evoke vulnerability while Pandarus appears as a negotiator. The linear perspective is used to lead the eye from the foreground figures toward the distant soldiers, creating a structured space that invites the viewer to ponder the relationship between private and public spheres. This controlled use of form encourages a semiotic reading of the print. The image becomes not just an illustration, but a structured argument about love, conflict, and societal roles.