I’m seriously considering a very long-term project: making an entire illuminated Shakespeare play. By “illuminated,” I mean something like the style in the excerpts above—like, not “illustrated” per se, but a conceptual sort of demonstration, through type, of what the text is about. Plus, maybe some illustrations along with it.
So my question for you, followers, is which play should I do? Leading contenders are:
Henry V. Pros: I’m obsessed with it, as you probably know if you’ve been following a while. Some of the text could be in like medieval-manuscript style, which I’m also obsessed with, and that would look awesome. Plus, there’s the chance for fun historical blurbs which I could illustrate. Also I’m fairly knowledgeable about it. Con: a disconcerting amount of my portfolio is like Henry V stuff, and if I’m being logical about my future I shouldn’t put all my eggs in an Illustrate Henry V Stuff Basket.
The Taming of the Shrew. Pros: the play is pretty well-known. I’d have the opportunity to put a bit of a feminist twist on things. Cons: a lot of the appeal is in like quick one-liner exchanges, which works a hell of a lot better performed than written. Also, no history blurbs :(
Julius Caesar. Pros: I could get a really nice Roman aesthetic going with type and illustrations. I love Roman art. Cons: I’d need to research a lot a lot a lot to bring it to a point I’m happy with, and I don’t know if I’ll have time to do that. Also, not as pumped about this one for whatever reason.
Macbeth. Pros: it’s short! I’d love to get it finished sooner. Also it has the potential for historical side-note illustrations. Plus it’s super-famous which means it’s more marketable/accessible. Cons: I don’t know much about Macbeth. And more famous means a higher chance of it having been done already.
What do you guys think? Yay or nay on the illustrated play? And if yay, which play?