Hamlet: The Death of Ophelia

Hamlet: The Death of Ophelia is a powerful lithograph created by Eugène Delacroix in 1843. This work exemplifies the artist's enduring fascination with the tragic narratives of William Shakespeare, a key source of inspiration for the French Romantic movement. Delacroix was deeply drawn to subjects that explored intense psychological states and moments of dramatic transition, finding in Shakespeare's tragedies a vehicle for expressing these complex emotions. As a printmaker, Delacroix mastered the lithographic technique to convey deep emotion and dramatic chiaroscuro, resulting in images that possess the richness and atmospheric depth typically associated with his oil paintings.

The scene depicted captures Ophelia’s demise, rendered with the characteristic dynamism and expressive line work that defined Delacroix’s style. Rather than showing the immediate moment of drowning, the composition focuses on the emotional weight of the tragedy, often emphasizing the eerie stillness of the water and the sorrowful fate of the protagonist. This piece belongs to a larger series of prints the artist devoted to the play Hamlet, demonstrating his significant engagement with literature throughout his career.

Delacroix’s dramatic interpretation elevated the medium of printmaking within the fine arts establishment of 19th-century France. Lithography, being well-suited for reproducing the swift, painterly style preferred by Romantic artists, allowed the artist to distribute these complex psychological portraits to a broader audience. The enduring popularity of these Shakespearean prints cemented Delacroix's reputation as a leading Romantic master. This original impression of the work is preserved in the collections of the Cleveland Museum of Art.