Macbeth Consulting the Witches

Macbeth Consulting the Witches by Eugène Delacroix is a powerful lithograph created in 1825, capturing the dramatic intensity of Shakespeare’s tragedy. As a central figure of the Romantic movement in France, Delacroix often turned to literary sources for inspiration, favoring subjects that allowed for the expression of intense emotion and psychological tension. This early work demonstrates the artist's engagement with the new print technique of lithography, which allowed him to achieve the rich tonal contrasts and painterly freedom characteristic of his drawing style.

The composition captures the supernatural encounter on the blasted heath, where Macbeth and Banquo meet the three hideous Witches. Delacroix utilizes a powerful chiaroscuro, plunging the scene into darkness punctuated by stark highlights, which heightens the dread of the prophecy that sets Macbeth on his bloody course. Unlike earlier static depictions, Delacroix’s approach is dynamic, focusing on the terrified reaction of the noblemen and the grotesque energy of the sorceresses.

The creation of such dramatic prints was crucial for Delacroix’s career, allowing wider dissemination of his expressive compositions across France and beyond. This print format helped cement his reputation not only as a painter but as a master of graphic arts, deeply influencing subsequent generations of artists fascinated by the intersection of literature and visual drama. This compelling nineteenth-century print resides in the esteemed collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.