Mephistopheles and Faust Fleeing after the Duel

Mephistopheles and Faust Fleeing after the Duel by Eugène Delacroix French, 1798-1863, created in 1828, captures a pivotal, dramatic moment from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s epic tragedy, Faust. This highly emotive scene immediately follows the duel where Faust, aided by the demon Mephistopheles, murders Valentine, the brother of his beloved Gretchen. The depiction focuses on the dynamic energy of the hurried escape, showing the figures fleeing across a dark, turbulent landscape.

The composition is rendered as a lithograph in black ink, printed on delicate white China paper which was subsequently laid down onto a supportive white wove paper. As a central figure in the French Romantic movement, Delacroix (1798-1863) found the expressive potential of lithography perfectly suited for translating the theatrical intensity and darkness inherent in Goethe’s poem. The medium allows for rich, velvety blacks and rapid, gestural lines, enhancing the feeling of motion and supernatural terror appropriate for a scene involving the Devil. The artist’s facility with the technique cemented his reputation as a leading illustrator of literary works in France.

Created early in the artist’s career, this lithograph reflects the profound European fascination with Faust throughout the 19th century. The resulting portfolio of prints provided widespread access to Delacroix's powerful illustrations. As an important example of 19th-century French graphic arts, this work resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Reproductions of works like this often become available through specialized art collections and the public domain, ensuring their continued scholarly study.