"He smothers her": plate 13 from Othello (Act 5, Scene 2) 1844 - 1900

This is Théodore Chassériau's chilling 19th-century etching depicting the tragic climax of Shakespeare’s Othello. Here, Othello, consumed by jealousy, smothers Desdemona. The image, dominated by the act of suffocation, immediately evokes ideas of betrayal, violence, and despair. The motif of the smothering is not unique to this play; we see variations of it across cultures. Think of ancient myths where gods punish transgressions with similar acts of suffocation. It reflects a deep, almost primal fear of betrayal by loved ones. The act of smothering also carries a weight of repressed emotions and subconscious anxieties. It’s an intimate act of violence, symbolizing not just physical death but also the stifling of love and trust. As we look at the limp body of Desdemona, we are forced to confront the destructive power of jealousy. This image, like the play, continues to haunt us, resurfacing in contemporary art and media, proving that the past is never truly dead, but rather a constant presence shaping our present understanding.