Hamlet: A Work of Art
How can someone truly understand the meaning behind a work of art? For my project I chose to express a conflict that took place within the main character of the novel “Hamlet”. The novel follows a young prince named Hamlet who discovers that his father was murdered by his uncle who took over the kingdom and married his mother. He
seeks to get revenge against the man who murdered his father, yet he has a conflict in the beginning of the novel of whether it’s the right thing to do. “And so am I revenged.
That would be scanned: A villain kills my father, and for that, I, his sole son, do this villain send to heaven” (ACT 3.SC.3. 80-83) The visual project that I created is a painted portrait of prince Hamlet wearing a black suit of clothing. The background of the painting is a deep blood red color with lines from one of Hamlet’s soliloquys written in white letters.
Firstly, when analyzing a work of art the background can be the first indicator of what is happening
within the painting or what the painting is about. For my painting I chose to use the background as a way to show the conflict going on within Hamlet. The background is a deep blood red color that conveys the inner conflict that’s inside of hamlet. I used the blood red color for the background of the painting
because usually the color red symbolizes passion, anger and revenge- which are all themes within the novel. I used white to write the quote “Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave, That I, the son of a dear (father)
murdered, Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, Must like a whore, unpack my heart with words And fall a-cursing like a very drab, A stallion! Fie upon’t! Foh! About my brains!- Hum, I have heard That guilty creatures sitting at a play Have, by the very cunning of the scene, Been struck so to the soul that presently They have proclaimed their malefactions; For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak With most miraculous organ” (ACT.2 .SC.2 611-623) from one of Hamlet’s soliloquys to symbolize his inner conflict that he has with himself and the clarity that he finds. I also used white to write the quote because it gives
a nice looking contrast to the dark red color and makes the quote “pop” against the background.
Secondly, when analyzing a work of art the subjects’ clothing can tell what the subject might be doing or
who they could be. For my painting I painted Hamlet wearing a crisp white turtle neck shirt and a black V-necked jacket. I chose the black jacket to show that he’s still in mourning over the sudden death of his father. “Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, To give these mourning duties to your father.” (ACT.1.
SC.2. 90-92) I didn’t give his jacket or shirt any design or symbols on it because it’s supposed to be a very serious time in the novel for Hamlet. He wears a brown belt with golden buttons on it, not for any particular reason- just to show his royalty in a simple way that wasn’t very flashy and went along with the “mourning”look. Overall, Hamlet’s entire appearance shows his resilience towards moving on about his father’s death and his mother’s sudden remarriage.
Thirdly, when analyzing a work of art, the way that the subject in the artwork is positioned can say a lot
about what’s going on in the artwork. I chose to depict Hamlet standing alone and in a portrait stance. His shoulders are broad and stiff to depict his seriousness and anger toward the situation that takes place in the novel. I also choose to depict Hamlet as an isolated and dark person, which is the way that he is throughout the entire novel “Madam, I swear I use no art at all. That he’s mad, ‘tis true; ‘tis true ‘tis pity, And pity ‘tis
true-a foolish figure, But farewell it, for I will use no art.” (Hamlet ACT 2. SC.2. 104-107). When painting
Hamlet I depicted him the way that he was portrayed in the 1996 film version of Hamlet that we watched in class. I painted him with a brown and light brown moustache and goatee because it gives Hamlet a more dramatic appearance. I gave him hair that had hints of yellow, dark yellow and dark brown in it because for
my idea of Hamlet he had blond, royal looking hair that had hints of natural highlights in it. His eyes are a dark shade of blue because blue usually symbolizes coldness and seriousness. I also gave his eyes an almost teal color around his blue irises to show a hint of cleverness and mystery within him. “‘Tis now the very witching time of night When churchyards yawn and hell itself (breathes) out Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood And do such (bitter) business as the day Would quake to look on.” (ACT.3.SC.2.420-425)
All in all, I was very pleased with my painting. I feel that my idea of
Hamlet and his inner conflict was portrayed nicely. I like how all of the
elements of revenge and clarity fit together in the painting to show a glimpse
of the inner dynamics of the character Hamlet.
seeks to get revenge against the man who murdered his father, yet he has a conflict in the beginning of the novel of whether it’s the right thing to do. “And so am I revenged.
That would be scanned: A villain kills my father, and for that, I, his sole son, do this villain send to heaven” (ACT 3.SC.3. 80-83) The visual project that I created is a painted portrait of prince Hamlet wearing a black suit of clothing. The background of the painting is a deep blood red color with lines from one of Hamlet’s soliloquys written in white letters.
Firstly, when analyzing a work of art the background can be the first indicator of what is happening
within the painting or what the painting is about. For my painting I chose to use the background as a way to show the conflict going on within Hamlet. The background is a deep blood red color that conveys the inner conflict that’s inside of hamlet. I used the blood red color for the background of the painting
because usually the color red symbolizes passion, anger and revenge- which are all themes within the novel. I used white to write the quote “Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave, That I, the son of a dear (father)
murdered, Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, Must like a whore, unpack my heart with words And fall a-cursing like a very drab, A stallion! Fie upon’t! Foh! About my brains!- Hum, I have heard That guilty creatures sitting at a play Have, by the very cunning of the scene, Been struck so to the soul that presently They have proclaimed their malefactions; For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak With most miraculous organ” (ACT.2 .SC.2 611-623) from one of Hamlet’s soliloquys to symbolize his inner conflict that he has with himself and the clarity that he finds. I also used white to write the quote because it gives
a nice looking contrast to the dark red color and makes the quote “pop” against the background.
Secondly, when analyzing a work of art the subjects’ clothing can tell what the subject might be doing or
who they could be. For my painting I painted Hamlet wearing a crisp white turtle neck shirt and a black V-necked jacket. I chose the black jacket to show that he’s still in mourning over the sudden death of his father. “Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, To give these mourning duties to your father.” (ACT.1.
SC.2. 90-92) I didn’t give his jacket or shirt any design or symbols on it because it’s supposed to be a very serious time in the novel for Hamlet. He wears a brown belt with golden buttons on it, not for any particular reason- just to show his royalty in a simple way that wasn’t very flashy and went along with the “mourning”look. Overall, Hamlet’s entire appearance shows his resilience towards moving on about his father’s death and his mother’s sudden remarriage.
Thirdly, when analyzing a work of art, the way that the subject in the artwork is positioned can say a lot
about what’s going on in the artwork. I chose to depict Hamlet standing alone and in a portrait stance. His shoulders are broad and stiff to depict his seriousness and anger toward the situation that takes place in the novel. I also choose to depict Hamlet as an isolated and dark person, which is the way that he is throughout the entire novel “Madam, I swear I use no art at all. That he’s mad, ‘tis true; ‘tis true ‘tis pity, And pity ‘tis
true-a foolish figure, But farewell it, for I will use no art.” (Hamlet ACT 2. SC.2. 104-107). When painting
Hamlet I depicted him the way that he was portrayed in the 1996 film version of Hamlet that we watched in class. I painted him with a brown and light brown moustache and goatee because it gives Hamlet a more dramatic appearance. I gave him hair that had hints of yellow, dark yellow and dark brown in it because for
my idea of Hamlet he had blond, royal looking hair that had hints of natural highlights in it. His eyes are a dark shade of blue because blue usually symbolizes coldness and seriousness. I also gave his eyes an almost teal color around his blue irises to show a hint of cleverness and mystery within him. “‘Tis now the very witching time of night When churchyards yawn and hell itself (breathes) out Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood And do such (bitter) business as the day Would quake to look on.” (ACT.3.SC.2.420-425)
All in all, I was very pleased with my painting. I feel that my idea of
Hamlet and his inner conflict was portrayed nicely. I like how all of the
elements of revenge and clarity fit together in the painting to show a glimpse
of the inner dynamics of the character Hamlet.