Shylock

I think after a year, I'm getting more and more comfortable in Painter. I haven't used Painter X yet, but I'm eager to try it. This poster was created for a one man play by Gareth Davies about the only Jewish character showcased in any shakespeare play. "Shylock" has become such a derogatory term for Jews. I was faced with the challenge of trying not to offend anyone, but still offer something that evoked the play. I enhanced a drawing from my sketchbook in Painter and I wrote out Shylock's famous monologue behind him ... "if you prick us, do we not bleed ..." I actually never knew that monologue came from Merchant of Venice, nor did I know it referred to the bigotry that Jews faced during Shakespeare's time. In all likelihood, William Shakespeare had never met a jew. They were banished from England, and almost all of Europe. The last place I think they were allowed was in Italy, where merchant of venice takes place.