Faust and Mephistopheles Galloping Through the Night of the Witches' Sabbath, from Faust

Faust and Mephistopheles Galloping Through the Night of the Witches' Sabbath, from Faust by Eugène Delacroix French, 1798-1863, captures a pivotal, dramatic moment from Goethe’s epic tragedy. Executed in 1828, this work is a superb example of early French Romanticism, showcasing the movement's fascination with dark narratives and psychological intensity. The image is rendered as a lithograph in black on ivory wove paper, highlighting Delacroix’s early mastery of the medium of printmaking.

The choice of lithography allowed 1798-1863 greater freedom for expressive drawing than traditional etching, enabling him to translate the intense emotionality required by the source material. This work was part of a highly influential series created to illustrate the French translation of Faust, which helped bring the powerful themes of the German masterpiece to a broader audience in France.

The scene depicts the eponymous scholar and the Devil traversing a chaotic, turbulent sky en route to the Brocken, the traditional site of the Witches' Sabbath. Delacroix utilizes the stark contrast inherent in the lithographic technique to heighten the sense of frenetic energy and supernatural dread. The speed and terror of the nocturnal ride are conveyed through rapid, expressive line work and deep shadows, emphasizing Faust’s overwhelming predicament. The work reflects the French art scene’s shift toward the dramatic narratives and emotional complexity central to the Romantic period. Delacroix’s engagement with literary sources through prints like this cemented his reputation as a leading artistic figure. This early, significant work resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.