Set in an enchanted forest at St. John's Eve at the summer solstice, William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the ideal subject for artist Marcel Dzama, whose work frequently references dreams, fairy tales, and mythical worlds. Inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Shakespeare’s celebrated romantic comedy intertwines multiple narratives under the influence of transformation and witchcraft. The play is often staged with actors wearing animal masks, an aspect which appeals particularly to Dzama, whose work is characterized by the fusion of human and animal, fantasy and reality.

This second title in the Seeing Shakespeare series from David Zwirner Books revisits the ultimate fairy tale through the eyes of a contemporary artist who feels a special affinity for its imagery. There is, as well, a beautifully written foreword text by Leslie Jamison. This is a really wonderful edition; the book design is gorgeous. Printed in Italy. If you love A Midsummer Night's Dream as much as we do, this needs to be on your bookshelf.

Hardcover, 144 pages. 2021.