Illustrations for Faust: Méphistophélé receives the schoolboy

Illustrations for Faust: Méphistophélé receives the schoolboy, created by Eugène Delacroix in 1828, is a pivotal example of French Romantic printmaking. This work belongs to a landmark series of seventeen lithographs illustrating Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's tragic drama, Faust. Delacroix was deeply drawn to the dramatic intensity and psychological complexity of the story, seeing it as a perfect vehicle for the era's new artistic sensibilities. His decision to create visual interpretations of the German masterpiece solidified his reputation as a leading figure of the burgeoning Romantic movement in France.

Delacroix utilized the medium of lithograph, a relatively new printmaking technique at the time, to capture the sardonic humor and dark promise of the scene. The image depicts the demon, Méphistophélé, having assumed the disguise of a scholar, as he greets a naive and eager schoolboy. Delacroix's characteristic strong contrasts of light and shadow enhance the theatricality of the encounter, emphasizing the demon's imposing presence. The freedom inherent in the lithographic process allowed the artist to achieve rich textural variations and spontaneous lines, lending these prints a visceral energy that appealed greatly to 19th-century audiences.

The complete series was hugely influential, establishing Delacroix as a master of illustration and setting a high standard for subsequent artistic interpretations of the literary masterpiece. This specific impression is held within the distinguished collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, representing a crucial moment in the history of Illustrations for Faust. Today, as this and other important prints from the era are made widely available, high-resolution public domain images ensure that Delacroix’s dramatic engagement with Romantic literature continues to inspire scholars worldwide.