Ophelia (Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 7)

Art Historical Context

This evocative print, titled *Ophelia (Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 7)*, captures tragic drowning of Hamlet's beloved from William Shakespeare's renowned play. Created as a mezzotint, etching, and stipple after Sir John Everett Millais' 1851–52 Pre-Raphael painting, it was engraved by James Stephenson and published Henry Graves & Company and Printsellers' Association,, on March 1, 1866. Millais' original work, with its hyper-detailed depiction of Ophelia floating amid lush river flora, exemplifies the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's commitment to naturalism, vivid color, and literary themes, making this print a faithful yet accessible reproduction for Victorian audiences. The mixed intaglio techniques—mezzotint for velvety tones and shadows, etching and stipple for fine lines and texture—lend the image extraordinary depth and luminosity, ideal for conveying the scene's melancholic beauty and impending death. Printed on chine collé (thin Oriental paper adhered to a stronger sheet), it highlights 19th-century innovations in printmaking that democratized high art, allowing wider appreciation of Millais' masterpiece. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department as part of The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, this proof offers a window into Victorian fascination with Shakespearean tragedy, women's fates, and romantic mortality. Its grand scale (image nearly 21 × 34 inches) immerses viewers in Ophelia's watery demise, blending literary drama with artistic virtuosity.