Full fathom five
Paul Woodroffe
Photomechanical reproduction of pen and ink drawing.
5½ x 4 inches
Songs from the Plays of Shakespeare , facing p. 64.
This is Woodroffe’s reading of Ariel’s strange song in The Tempest. The artist captures the weird tone, in part morbid and in part ethereal. The flowing hair and congested detail express the notion of teeming plenty – nature in magical excess. The illustration makes a strong contrast with his representation of winter’s frugal cold and sterility.
Click on image to enlarge it.
Scanned image and text by Simon Cooke.