Lear with Cordelia in his arms: "If that her breath will mist or stain the stone, Why, then she lives" (Act V, Scene III), from the portfolio King Lear

In 1963, Austrian painter Oskar Kokoschka created a series of 16 lithographs to illustrate William Shakespeare’s King Lear. One of the Bard’s most highly-regarded tragedies, the play follows the elderly King Lear’s descent into madness after foolishly dividing his estate among two of his three daughters based on their false flattery, resulting in a tragic outcome for all. Kokoschka’s series depicts critical points in the narrative which often correspond to dialogue by Lear and his daughters Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia, in addition to that of the other characters vying for the throne. Providing minimal information about the setting of each scene, Kokoschka’s sketchy compositions instead focus on the characters, each depicted with the artist’s characteristic energetic expressionism.