Macbeth and the Witches

Macbeth and the Witches is a powerful lithograph created in 1825 by Eugène Delacroix French, 1798-1863. This early example of the artist's deep engagement with dramatic literature captures the titular character's terrifying encounter with the three Witches, a pivotal scene from Shakespeare’s tragedy. Executed as a lithograph from two stones, the work presents a high-contrast palette of black and ivory on white wove paper, a technique that allowed Delacroix to achieve subtle yet dramatic tonal variations, enhancing the eerie and unsettling atmosphere appropriate for the subject matter.

Created in France, this piece exemplifies the expressive intensity and emphasis on emotion central to the Romantic movement, which Delacroix championed throughout his career. Unlike the refined precision of Neoclassicism, Delacroix focused on dynamic motion and psychological turmoil, utilizing the stark graphic qualities of prints to convey Macbeth's terror and fate.

Delacroix demonstrated the same mastery in lithography as he did in oil painting, utilizing deep shadows and sharp contrasts to emphasize the supernatural nature of the three figures. This significant print is classified within the Art Institute of Chicago’s permanent collection. Dating from the 19th century, the image is often referenced by scholars examining the intersection of Romantic art and dramatic literature. As an important part of the museum’s collection, and now in the public domain, high-quality images of this chilling interpretation of Shakespeare are widely accessible, allowing enthusiasts to study the graphic techniques employed by one of France's foremost Romantic masters.