Hamlet and Laertes at the Tomb of Ophelia

Hamlet and Laertes at the Tomb of Ophelia by Eugène Delacroix is an emotionally charged drawing executed in graphite on tracing paper, which has been laid down for preservation. Dated broadly between 1838 and 1848, this preparatory work exemplifies the French Romantic artist’s enduring fascination with the dramatic power of William Shakespeare. The composition captures the tumultuous climax of Act V, Scene 1 of Hamlet, where the grief-stricken hero confronts Laertes in the freshly dug grave of Ophelia. Delacroix masterfully uses the sketchy quality of the graphite to emphasize the visceral struggle between the two men, highlighted by the surrounding figures of the King, Queen, and the gravediggers.

Delacroix continually revisited the tragic narrative of Hamlet throughout his career, finding in the prince’s existential despair and the intense confrontation with Laertes rich material for Romantic expression. This drawing serves as a critical study, allowing the artist to quickly map out the figures and their dynamic interaction before potential translation into oil painting or lithography. The emphasis on dramatic movement and the psychological distress of the central men is characteristic of the Romantic movement's approach to literature. Residing in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this drawing provides valuable insight into the preparatory process of one of the 19th century’s leading French artists. As original studies such as this transition into the public domain, they become accessible for academic research and the creation of fine art prints, allowing broader study of Delacroix’s engagement with Shakespearean subjects.