Illustrations for Faust: Méphistophélés in the air

Illustrations for Faust: Méphistophélès in the air is a lithograph created by the pivotal French Romantic artist, Eugène Delacroix, in 1828. This expressive print is one of 17 images Delacroix produced to accompany a French translation of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's influential drama, Faust. Delacroix, deeply passionate about the themes of tragedy and the supernatural, utilized the expressive, painterly qualities inherent in the lithographic process to capture the dramatic and demonic grandeur of Méphistophélès.

The work depicts the titular demon, shown airborne in a swirl of dark energy and cloak. Delacroix's distinctive style, characterized by dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, amplifies the sense of terror and mobility appropriate for the subject. Although the illustrations were initially met with mixed commercial success in France, they were widely recognized by contemporaries, including Goethe himself, who praised Delacroix for interpreting his literary vision with such emotional power. This artistic endeavor cemented Delacroix's reputation as the foremost illustrator of Romantic literature in the early nineteenth century.

As a key example of the artist's dedication to the printmaking field, the piece provides crucial insight into the transition of art from large-scale painting to smaller, widely disseminated prints during the period. This specific lithograph, designated as a significant print within the history of French art, resides in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Because of their historical and cultural importance, works related to this influential set of Faust illustrations are often found in public domain archives globally, making Delacroix's expressive vision accessible to modern audiences.