Amir and Emily’s Apartment

Central characters Amir and Emily live in an apartment in New York’s very desirable Upper East Side. Expansive, expensively decorated, and with a great view, the apartment is representative of the high economic and professional status that Amir has not only aspired to for most of his life, but actually begun to achieve.

“Portrait of Juan de Pereda”

This painting, by Spanish artist Diego Velazquez, is the portrait of the painter’s “Moorish” slave/apprentice, Juan de Pereda. It is the inspiration of a portrait that Emily does of Amir, both works having important visual echoes of one another and similar implications about race relations.

“Study after Velazquez’ Moor”

This is the name Emily gives to the painting inspired by the “Portrait” mentioned above. Emily’s version proves to be the trigger for significant, intense conflict throughout the play, and is...