Faust in Marguerite's Prison Cell, from Faust

Faust in Marguerite's Prison Cell, from Faust, created by Eugène Delacroix French, 1798-1863 in 1828, is a pivotal example of Romantic illustration and one of the most celebrated works from the artist’s influential lithographic series dedicated to Goethe’s tragic drama. The print was executed as a lithograph in black on ivory wove paper, showcasing Delacroix's early adoption and mastery of this relatively new printmaking technique.

The work illustrates the intense climax of the German tragedy, where the heartbroken and desperate Faust visits Marguerite (Gretchen) in her cell. She has been imprisoned for infanticide, driven mad by the machinations of Mephistopheles. Delacroix uses the inherent tonal richness of the lithograph to achieve dramatic, deep chiaroscuro. This contrast emphasizes the claustrophobic darkness of the prison setting, heightening the emotional despair of Marguerite and the futility of Faust’s final attempt to save her.

Delacroix’s Faust series was instrumental in popularizing Goethe’s work among French audiences, translating the German Romantic spirit into visual form. The dynamism and emotional intensity evident in this piece defined much of the artist's mature output and cemented his status as a central figure in the French Romantic movement. His ability to render literary narrative through the powerful medium of prints transformed the illustration into a powerful, standalone work of art. This historically significant lithograph remains a key component of the collection at the Art Institute of Chicago.