Marguerite's Ghost Appearing to Faust, from Faust

Marguerite's Ghost Appearing to Faust, from Faust was created by the pivotal French Romantic artist Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863) in 1828. This important work belongs to a defining series of prints illustrating Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's monumental dramatic poem, Faust. Delacroix's lithographs, executed shortly after the publication of the French translation, were crucial in establishing the visual aesthetics of the Romantic movement in France, cementing the artist's reputation early in his career.

The piece is classified as a print, specifically a powerful lithograph rendered in black ink on ivory wove paper. Delacroix utilizes the expressive capabilities of the medium, exploiting deep blacks and dramatic contrasts to heighten the supernatural drama central to the narrative. The scene depicts the protagonist, Faust, confronted by the spectral image of Marguerite, the woman he tragically seduced and abandoned. Delacroix masterfully conveys the psychological intensity of the encounter, emphasizing Faust's horror and the ethereal sorrow of the ghost floating above him. This powerful treatment of shadow and light reflects the period’s interest in intense emotion and psychological conflict.

The strong narrative focus and technical brilliance of the lithography made this set of illustrations immensely popular across France and Europe, influencing subsequent generations of visual artists. This pivotal work is held in the extensive collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a crucial artifact of early nineteenth-century French prints, this artwork, now often available in the public domain, highlights the profound way Delacroix successfully translated complex literary narratives into enduring visual statements.