If I Do Die Before Thee, plate eight from Othello

Art Historical Context

In the Prints and Drawings department of the Art Institute of Chicago, Théodore Chassériau *If I Do Die Before, plate eight from Othello* (1844) captures a poignant moment from Shakespeare's tragedy. This etching draws from the play's climactic scene where Othello bids Desdemona to shroud him in her bedsheets if he dies first, evoking themes of love, jealousy, and doom. At just 25, Chassériau—a prodigious French artist blending Romantic passion with Neoclassical precision—included this as part of a rare series of eight prints inspired by Othello, showcasing his early mastery of dramatic narrative in print form. Crafted through etching, engraving, and drypoint on delicate off-white China paper (then laid down on cream wove paper for preservation), the work measures a intimate 28.5 × 21.5 cm. These intaglio techniques allowed Chassériau to achieve rich tonal contrasts: etching for fluid lines via acid bite, engraving for crisp definition with a burin, and drypoint for velvety textures from a raised burr. China paper's thin, absorbent quality enhanced ink saturation, making fine details pop—ideal for intimate study or collector's albums. This plate highlights 19th-century fascination with Shakespeare in visual art, bridging literature and Romanticism. Chassériau's expressive handling elevates the print beyond mere illustration, inviting viewers to ponder Othello's tragic intimacy in a format both accessible and technically virtuoso.

About the Artist

Théodore Chassériau · 1819–1856

Théodore Chassériau was born on September 20, 1819, in El Limón, Samaná, in the Spanish colony of Santo Domingo — present-day Dominican Republic — to a French father and a Creole mother. The family relocated to Paris in 1820, and the young Chassériau's exceptional talent was evident almost immediately. At just eleven years old, in 1830, he was accepted into the prestigious studio of Jean-Auguste-D...