Faust Trying to Seduce Marguerite (Goethe, Faust)

"Faust Trying to Seduce Marguerite (Goethe, Faust)" is a highly dramatic lithograph created by Eugène Delacroix between 1825 and 1827. Classified as a print, this particular impression represents the seventh state of seven, demonstrating the artist’s meticulous reworking and refinement of the stone before finalizing the composition. The work is directly inspired by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s tragic drama Faust, a literary source that deeply resonated with the emotional intensity of the burgeoning French Romantic movement, in which Delacroix was a central figure.

The scene captures the intimate moment of attempted seduction, highlighting the tense dynamic between the learned man, Faust, and the innocent young woman, Marguerite. Delacroix uses the inherent capability of the lithographic process—specifically its ability to produce deep, velvety blacks and dramatic contrasts—to heighten the psychological drama. The dense shadows surrounding the figures underscore the moral complexity of Faust’s endeavor, driven by the pact he made with Mephistopheles.

Delacroix’s series illustrating Goethe’s masterpiece was influential, establishing him not only as a leading painter but also as a master printmaker in the realm of graphic arts. The resulting prints helped define the Romantic visual interpretation of the German text for generations of European artists. The technical virtuosity displayed in this specific print is exceptional, showing the subtle variations in tone that Delacroix achieved through incremental changes across the seven states. This impression is held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a critical example of 19th-century French prints. Historical availability has made many such prints accessible, contributing significantly to the art historical public domain.