Illustrations for Faust: Méphistophélés and Faust flee after the duel

Illustrations for Faust: Méphistophélés and Faust flee after the duel by Eugène Delacroix, created in 1828, is a powerful example of French Romantic printmaking and a key moment in the artist's illustrative career. This lithograph captures a dramatic, high-stakes moment from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's influential tragedy, Faust, focusing on the titular character and the demonic Méphistophélès as they make a frantic escape. The work belongs to a landmark series of seventeen lithographs published between 1826 and 1828, which helped solidify the artist's status as the leading figure of the burgeoning Romantic movement.

Delacroix, a central figure in France's artistic evolution during the 19th century, chose the new medium of lithography to translate the literary drama onto paper. Unlike the restrictive lines of engraving, the greasy crayon used in lithography allowed Delacroix a freedom akin to drawing. This technique facilitated the creation of heavy, velvety shadows and stark contrasts, perfectly suited to the macabre and tumultuous subject matter of Illustrations for Faust. The sense of haste and desperation conveyed through the expressive, angular outlines of the figures underscores the psychological intensity that defined Romanticism.

The influence of these early prints was immense, drawing widespread European attention to Goethe’s masterwork and establishing Delacroix's reputation for illustrative genius. This significant work is held within the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Because of their historical importance, high-resolution reproductions of these Delacroix lithographs are often available through public domain collections, enabling wider scholarly access to this pivotal moment in the history of Faust interpretation and the development of the lithographic medium.