Illustrations for Faust: Marguerite's shadow appears to Faust

The influential lithograph, Illustrations for Faust: Marguerite's shadow appears to Faust, was created by Eugène Delacroix in 1828. This dramatic print is a powerful example of French Romanticism and belongs to Delacroix's celebrated series illustrating Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's dramatic poem, Faust. Delacroix embraced the relatively new medium of lithography, a technique allowing for fluid, expressive drawing directly on the stone, to capture the supernatural drama and emotional intensity of the scene.

The work captures a pivotal and tragic moment in the narrative, where the tormented heroine, Marguerite, appears as a spectral presence before Faust. Delacroix masterfully utilizes the deep blacks and expressive contrasts inherent in the lithographic process to enhance the somber, psychological tension of the apparition. He foregrounds the emotional turmoil of the protagonist, emphasizing the Romantic interest in imagination, guilt, and the macabre.

Produced during a highly fertile period for Faust interpretations in France, Delacroix’s illustrations were instantly recognized as definitive visual interpretations of the text, greatly influencing subsequent artists and readers alike. This significant piece of early 19th-century French culture, demonstrating Delacroix’s genius for narrative illustration, resides in the Cleveland Museum of Art’s distinguished collection of prints. High-quality images of this powerful lithograph are often made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring widespread access to the work of this pivotal Romantic master.