Artwork
Evil
Evil is a print by William Sharp. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
William Sharp’s 1850 print *Evil* is an engraving on paper executed as a proof impression, evident from the presence of open letters that mark an early stage of the printing process. The image presents a close‑up of a contorted face, rendered with intense contrast and a sense of depth that draws immediate visual focus.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a screaming visage with wild, curly hair, a thick beard, a gaping mouth exposing teeth, and bulging eyes. A hand grips the edge of a dark, swirling cloth that frames the head like a hood, suggesting a personification of fear or anger, a reading reinforced by the work’s title, *Evil*.
Technique & Style
Sharp, decisive lines and heavy chiaroscuro shading give the face a dramatic, almost sculptural three‑dimensionality. The engraving’s strong light‑and‑shadow interplay heightens the emotional intensity, while the proof’s unfinished lettering reveals the artist’s process before final printing.
History & Provenance
Sharp based the image on a design by Michelangelo, translating the Renaissance master’s drawing into a mid‑nineteenth‑century print medium. The work was never assigned to a specific artistic movement, and the surviving proof indicates it was likely intended for further editioning that never materialised.
Artist & collection
