Hamlet and Laertes in Ophelia's Grave, plate 15 from Hamlet

Hamlet and Laertes in Ophelia's Grave, plate 15 from Hamlet is a pivotal work by Eugène Delacroix French, 1798-1863, created in 1843. This powerful dramatic scene is rendered using the demanding technique of lithography in black, executed on delicate off-white China paper that was subsequently laid down on sturdy white wove paper. Delacroix’s complete series illustrating Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, is considered a cornerstone of French Romantic prints and printmaking of the period.

The scene captures the moment of climactic confrontation in the graveyard, where Hamlet confronts Laertes over the death of Ophelia. Delacroix (1798-1863) was profoundly drawn to the raw passion and psychological complexity inherent in Shakespearean tragedy, utilizing the strong contrasts afforded by the black ink lithograph medium to heighten the tension between the figures and emphasize the surrounding gloom of the setting. The figures, rendered dynamically, convey the intense grief and anger central to the plot.

This fascination with literary and historical drama cemented Delacroix's reputation as the preeminent leader of the Romantic school in France. As a major figure in 19th-century French art, Delacroix frequently employed lithography, ensuring his dramatic compositions could be widely disseminated as artistic prints. This particular impression of Hamlet and Laertes in Ophelia's Grave is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. While highly influential during the Romantic period, reproductions of works like this print are often made available for study and reference through public domain initiatives, ensuring the enduring accessibility of Delacroix’s masterful interpretation of literary drama.