Illustrations for Faust: Frontispiece - Portrait of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Illustrations for Faust: Frontispiece - Portrait of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe by Eugène Delacroix is a significant example of French Romantic printmaking, created in 1828. This iconic lithograph serves as the frontispiece for Delacroix’s highly influential series illustrating the first part of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s seminal poetic tragedy, Faust.

The portrait depicts the elderly German poet in a somber, contemplative pose. Rather than a formal likeness, Delacroix aimed to capture the profound intellect and perhaps the melancholy reflection of the author whose work was sweeping Europe at the time. Delacroix’s involvement with Faust cemented his reputation as a leading figure in the Romantic movement in France, demonstrating a profound engagement with German literary culture.

The artist’s innovative use of the lithograph medium, visible in the dark, expressive lines and subtle tonal shifts of the Illustrations for Faust: Frontispiece, allowed him to achieve dramatic psychological depth. This technique facilitated the rapid dissemination of his prints, making the series an immediate cultural sensation that bridged literary and visual arts across Europe. Delacroix’s bold interpretation of the text, characterized by intense emotion and dramatic light, earned the admiration of Goethe himself. As a key nineteenth-century work, the original 1828 edition is now within the public domain, allowing wide study of these influential prints. This particular impression of the work resides in the esteemed collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.