Ophelia’s natural innocence, and compliance to her father and brother (male figures) have made her a popular symbolic subject for artists of the 19th century to portray. In Hamlet, she is often associated with flowers (sings about them when she becomes insane; a sign that her always innocence remains intact), and therefor not a single painting of her exists them. In general, artists have either focused on alluding to her psyche – such as in Henrietta Rae’s Ophelia (below), where the canvas is “split in half between light and dark [to symbolize the chasm in her mind]” – or portraying her as a victim – such as in Arthur Hugh’s Ophelia (below), where “spikes [around her head] stick out like a crown of thorns, [associating her to martyrdom].” I find it interesting that out of all the major characters in the play, Ophelia seems to be the one most commonly interpreted. Does this make her a weak or strong character?
Ophelia - by John Everett Millais (1829-1896)
(most known)
Ophelia - by Arthur Hughes (1831-1915)
(most known)
Ophelia - by Henrietta Rae (1859-1928)
sources:
http://www.theatrehistory.com/british/art_of_hamlet.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophelia_(album)
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