Faust and Mephistopheles in the Harz Mountains, from Faust by Eugène Delacroix (French, 1798-1863), is a significant lithograph created in 1828. This print is drawn from a series of seventeen illustrations Delacroix produced for the German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's seminal tragedy, Faust. Delacroix, a leading figure of the French Romantic movement, was profoundly drawn to literature that allowed for expressions of intense emotion and dramatic conflict, making Goethe's poem a perfect subject. The medium chosen-lithograph in black on ivory wove paper-allowed the artist to employ deep shadows and sharp contrasts, underscoring the work's inherent psychological tension.
The scene captures the moment when Mephistopheles transports the aged scholar Faust through the ominous Harz Mountains toward the Walpurgis Night celebrations. Delacroix masterfully conveys the dizzying height and speed of their passage; Mephistopheles dominates the composition with his powerful, slightly hunched form, while Faust appears hesitant and small against the vast, turbulent landscape. This work is celebrated for translating the literary drama of the poem into visual terms, showcasing the innovative application of the lithographic process in 19th-century France. Delacroix's illustrations helped introduce Goethe’s masterwork to a wider European audience. This crucial example of French Romantic prints is held within the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
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