La Pietà

La Pietà, created by Eugène Delacroix in 1852, is a profound example of the artist's late graphic work. Classified as a print, the piece was executed using the demanding etching technique on chine collé, a specialized process where a thin, fine layer of paper (the chine) is adhered to a heavier backing sheet during the printing process. This specific impression is identified as the second state of two, indicating the careful refinements made to the plate before its final printing.

Delacroix, a figurehead of the Romantic movement, frequently revisited religious and historical themes, and this work depicts the traditional subject of the Lamentation of Christ. Although best known for his dramatic and colorful oil paintings, Delacroix was a dedicated printmaker throughout his career, often using etching to explore intense emotionality and dynamic compositions on a more intimate scale. The medium's capacity for sharp contrasts perfectly amplifies the raw grief central to the La Pietà theme.

This mature work dates just four years before the artist’s death, solidifying its place in the legacy of 19th-century French prints. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this significant impression in its extensive collection, ensuring its preservation and availability for scholarly study. As a key graphic work by the Romantic master, impressions of this etching have been widely disseminated, often entering the public domain and influencing subsequent generations of artists.