Hamlet Pursuing His Father's Ghost, plate 2 from Hamlet

Hamlet Pursuing His Father's Ghost, plate 2 from Hamlet by Eugène Delacroix French, 1798-1863, is a pivotal work created in 1835 that captures one of the most dramatic moments in Shakespeare’s tragedy. Delacroix, the leading proponent of French Romanticism, was deeply inspired by literary themes, particularly those concerning intense emotion and human conflict. This specific image is part of a celebrated series of lithographs illustrating Hamlet, a project that occupied the artist intermittently for over three decades, testifying to the play's importance in 19th-century France.

Executed as a lithograph in black on off-white China paper laid down on white wove paper, the technique emphasizes dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, befitting the ghostly encounter. The classification of this piece as a fine print allowed Delacroix to disseminate his powerful interpretation of the play widely. The medium is ideally suited to capturing the nocturnal atmosphere and the terror of the young prince as he follows the specter of the deceased King. These prints showcase Delacroix’s virtuosity in using the heavy density of the black crayon, often blending dramatic realism with spectral energy.

This powerful representation of psychological tension aligns perfectly with the aesthetic values of 19th-century France. Delacroix’s masterful handling of the theatrical narrative ensured the series' success and influence. The work is housed in the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a crucial example of French Romanticism in graphic arts. As influential prints like this enter the public domain, they allow for broader study of Delacroix’s influential oeuvre.