Hamlet and the Body of Polonius (Act III, Scene IV)

Hamlet and the Body of Polonius (Act III, Scene IV), created by Eugène Delacroix in 1835, is a powerful example of French Romanticism produced during the core period of 1826 to 1850. Executed as a lithograph, this dramatic print illustrates one of the most fraught and decisive moments in Shakespeare’s tragedy: the immediate aftermath of Hamlet mistakenly killing Polonius while confronting his mother, Queen Gertrude, in her private chamber.

Delacroix, a towering figure in the French artistic landscape of the 19th century, frequently turned to global literature for intense, psychological inspiration, viewing Shakespeare as a kindred spirit who explored the extremes of human emotion. The composition is stark and intimate, centered on Hamlet, who stands guilt-ridden over the concealed corpse of Polonius, draped under a heavy cloth. Delacroix’s control of the lithographic medium is profoundly effective, utilizing deep, velvety blacks and sharp white highlights. This dramatic use of contrast is essential for conveying the claustrophobic setting and the dark psychology of the scene, emphasizing the prince’s anguish and the horror of the realization.

This print was included within a larger portfolio dedicated to Shakespearean subjects, confirming the playwright's dominant influence on the Romantic movement throughout the era. The work captures the high emotional intensity characteristic of the time, distinguishing it from earlier neoclassical approaches to historical and literary subjects. This significant lithograph is housed in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., serving as a key record of Delacroix’s influential graphic output. Today, high-resolution images and specialized prints of this French masterwork are often accessible to scholars and the public, contributing to its ongoing availability through public domain initiatives focused on preserving artistic heritage.