Touchstone and Audrey (by John Collier)

This design features a painting by the British Pre-Raphaelite artist John Collier (1850–1934). It is a richly detailed, character-driven painting that brings to life two secondary figures from Shakespeare’s play "As You Like It". Collier focuses on the unlikely romantic pairing between Touchstone, the court jester, and Audrey, a simple shepherdess. In the play, their relationship is deliberately unpoetic and humorous, a counterpoint to the idealized romances of the main characters. Collier translates and transports this contrast into visual form, creating a portrait of two people whose temperaments, social backgrounds, and attitudes toward love could hardly be more different. Touchstone is rendered with an air of intelligence and sly wit. His brightly colored jester’s costume, complete with elaborate patterns and bold tones, immediately signals his role as a fool, yet his expression also seems to make clear that he is the sharpest observer on the stage. Collier captures him in a moment of poised confidence, leaning slightly toward Audrey with a knowing, almost teasing gaze. The jester’s posture and facial expression suggest that he sees through the absurdities of both courtly and pastoral life, and that his courtship of Audrey is an amused, playful act as much as a genuine pursuit. Audrey, by contrast, is painted with simplicity and sincerity. Her clothing is plain and rustic, and Collier softens her features to convey her innocence and straightforward nature. She sits quietly beside Touchstone, her expression gentle, almost timid. Collier does not exaggerate her simplicity; instead, he allows her modesty to speak for itself, creating a character who is kind, humble and earnest in ways completely unlike her companion. Her presence in the painting brings a sense of grounded calm that balances Touchstone’s clever and playful energy. The setting, likely the Forest of Arden, is depicted with naturalistic detail, providing a peaceful woodland backdrop. This pastoral environment evokes the play’s themes of rustic escape and transformation while also highlighting the tension between courtly artifice (embodied by Touchstone) and rural simplicity (represented by Audrey). Touchstone’s wit and performative personality are seen beside Audrey’s innocence and sincerity, creating a relationship that is both charming and comically mismatched. Through careful characterization, detailed costuming, and a harmonious natural setting, Collier translates Shakespeare’s comic subplot into a vivid and thoughtfully composed image that highlights the enduring appeal of these two unconventional lovers. The original artwork of "Touchstone and Audrey" was painted by John Collier in 1890.