Broeder Martin zet Götz zijn ijzeren hand aan

Broeder Martin zet Götz zijn ijzeren hand aan is a significant print created by the influential French Romantic master Eugène Delacroix between 1836 and 1843. This work exemplifies the artist's deep engagement with graphic techniques, utilizing chine collé on paper. This sophisticated printmaking method involves adhering a thin, often differently toned paper onto a heavier backing sheet during the printing process, allowing Delacroix to achieve subtle textural variation and rich tonal depth within the composition.

As a leading figure in the Romantic movement in France, Delacroix frequently drew inspiration from dramatic historical narratives and intense literary sources. This particular scene is closely associated with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's play Götz von Berlichingen, which recounts the life of the German knight famous for his highly complex prosthetic iron hand. The image focuses on the figure of Brother Martin, who is depicted manipulating or adjusting Götz’s mechanical appendage. This subject allowed Delacroix to explore themes of medieval history, human ingenuity, and the raw dramatic tension characteristic of his overall artistic output.

Classified simply as a print, this piece offers valuable insight into Delacroix’s mastery beyond his celebrated oil paintings. It demonstrates his capacity for powerful line work and shadow play in black and white media. The work is held in the extensive collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. As with many important prints from this 19th-century French culture, the image contributes to the canon of graphic art and is frequently studied within the context of public domain initiatives that ensure wider accessibility to historical masterworks.