Mephistopheles and Faust Fleeing After the Duel, from Faust

Mephistopheles and Faust Fleeing After the Duel, from Faust by Eugène Delacroix French, 1798-1863, created in 1828, is a significant example of Romantic illustration that captures a climactic moment from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s tragic drama, Faust. This dynamic image is realized as a lithograph in black on ivory wove paper, showcasing Delacroix’s sophisticated mastery of the relatively new printmaking technique. Lithography allowed the artist to achieve rich, painterly blacks and high-contrast effects, perfectly suited to the dramatic tension of the scene.

The composition depicts the immediate aftermath of the fatal duel between Faust and Valentine, Margaret’s brother. Driven by urgency, Mephistopheles is shown actively assisting a terrified Faust in their frantic escape, underscoring the infernal pact and its violent consequences. This particular illustration was one of seventeen plates Delacroix executed for a highly influential French edition of Goethe’s masterpiece, solidifying the German literary work’s popularity among French intellectuals.

Delacroix, a leading figure of the Romantic movement in France, utilized the narrative potential of prints to disseminate emotionally charged, literary-based imagery. The work exemplifies the movement's emphasis on passion, movement, and dramatic contrast, moving away from Neoclassical rigidity. Dating to 1828, this graphic piece remains an essential touchstone for studying 19th-century French prints and illustration. It is currently housed in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, contributing to the understanding of the artist's prolific output outside of oil painting.