Illustrations for Faust: Marguerite with the wheel

Illustrations for Faust: Marguerite with the wheel by Eugène Delacroix, created in 1828, is a significant example of French Romantic printmaking. This lithograph belongs to a renowned series of eighteen illustrations that Delacroix produced for the second French edition of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's dramatic masterpiece, Faust. Utilizing the stark contrasts and atmospheric depth unique to the lithographic medium, Delacroix interpreted the intense emotional and psychological turmoil of the character Marguerite (or Gretchen).

The illustration captures Marguerite, the innocent young woman seduced and abandoned by Faust, seated at a spinning wheel. The traditional domestic setting is transformed into a stage for acute psychological distress, reflecting the shift toward emotional intensity characteristic of French Romanticism during this period. Delacroix’s dramatic use of light and shadow emphasizes her despair and isolation, elevating the scene from a simple narrative moment to a profound study of human suffering. These influential prints were pivotal in establishing Faust's visual language for European audiences, marking a key moment when Romantic artists in France embraced literature as primary source material for complex imagery.

Classified as a Print and originating from French culture, this work showcases the artist’s prolific activity outside of traditional oil painting. The Faust series, renowned for its dramatic flair, secured Delacroix’s reputation among contemporary intellectuals and remains highly valued among nineteenth-century prints. This specific example of Illustrations for Faust: Marguerite with the wheel is held in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, preserving its historical importance as a vital lithograph that, being nearly 200 years old, often features in open access and public domain initiatives.