Hamlet Wishes to Follow the Ghost of his Father (Act I, Scene IV)

The powerful lithograph, Hamlet Wishes to Follow the Ghost of his Father (Act I, Scene IV), was created by the renowned French Romantic artist Eugène Delacroix in 1835. Executed in the dramatic graphic medium of lithography, the work captures a critical moment of profound conflict from William Shakespeare's tragedy. This piece is characteristic of the European Romantic period, dating specifically from 1826 to 1850, when intense psychological drama and evocative literary sources were dominant subjects for artists aiming to convey deep emotion.

Delacroix’s engagement with Hamlet was extensive throughout his career, resulting in a number of studies focused on moments of high tension and psychological distress. This particular depiction captures the young prince poised between the spectral command of his father's ghost and the desperate anxiety of his companions, Horatio and Marcellus, who physically attempt to halt him. The inherent qualities of the lithograph medium, which involves drawing directly onto a stone surface, allowed Delacroix to achieve deep, velvety blacks and dramatic contrasts of light and shadow. This sharp chiaroscuro heightens the supernatural atmosphere of the scene, underscoring the terror and uncertainty of the encounter. The image was originally produced as one component within a larger Portfolio dedicated to illustrating the key moments of the play.

As a foundational figure in French Romanticism, Delacroix often sought subjects that allowed for the expression of powerful, unrestrained emotion, aligning perfectly with the turbulent themes of Shakespeare. This print remains an essential example of 19th-century French graphic art and is held in the comprehensive collection of the National Gallery of Art. The accessibility of prints like these, especially those falling into the public domain, ensures that Delacroix’s masterful interpretation of classic literature continues to be studied globally.