"Ekphrasis"

Ekphrasis refers to the idea of “painting a picture within a picture” or describing a picture within a narrative. In Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare refrains from showing the “barge” scene, and instead, has Enobarbus vividly describe it. By not showing the “barge” scene, Shakespeare further emphasizes the meaning of words and the play as an auditory medium. This also evokes a sense of detachment, or feeling of being let down from the audience.