Portrait of Goethe, from Faust

The striking work, Portrait of Goethe, from Faust, was created by the French Romantic master Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863) in 1827. This seminal piece is a lithograph, executed in black on white wove paper, highlighting Delacroix's early engagement with printmaking. Lithography, a relatively new medium at the time, allowed the artist to capture the dramatic tonal shifts and expressive lines characteristic of the Romantic movement in France. This print stems from Delacroix's profound fascination with the writings of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, especially his epic tragedy Faust.

Delacroix produced a series of illustrations relating to Faust between 1826 and 1827, arguably introducing the German literary giant to a wider French audience. While many of his companion prints focused on dramatic narrative scenes, this particular work isolates the figure of Goethe himself, portraying the influential writer rather than a specific character from the text. Delacroix's highly publicized engagement with the Faust theme was widely influential, shaping how many artists and intellectuals perceived the text throughout the 19th century. The intense, moody quality of the 1827 lithograph perfectly translates the era's taste for psychological depth and dramatic shadow.

As a leading figure of French Romanticism, Delacroix often utilized prints like this to distribute his emotionally charged imagery widely. This piece is an important example of how the artist mastered the graphic arts medium, contributing significantly to the history of prints in France. This renowned impression of Portrait of Goethe, from Faust is held in the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.