Steenie or Redgauntlet Pursued by a Goblin on Horseback

Steenie or Redgauntlet Pursued by a Goblin on Horseback by Eugène Delacroix, created in 1829, is a dramatic example of early nineteenth-century French prints. This particular impression is an unfinished lithograph, noted as the first state of three, offering valuable insight into the artist’s graphic process before finalization. Delacroix captures a moment of high tension, illustrating a desperate chase rooted in the era's fascination with Romantic literary and folkloric themes. The image features a protagonist, identifiable by detailed military clothing, fleeing a demonic pursuer on horseback, highlighting Delacroix's attraction to narratives involving extreme emotion and physical conflict.

Delacroix utilizes the nuanced contrasts and fluidity afforded by the lithographic stone to emphasize the kinetic energy of the scene. The composition is focused on the two highly animated horses, whose desperate movement defines the narrative urgency. The raw, immediate quality of the unfinished state amplifies the terror, showcasing the preliminary genius inherent in Delacroix’s approach to printmaking classification. The detailed depiction of the horses and the rider's military attire anchors the supernatural scenario in a visual realism typical of Delacroix’s Romantic sensibilities. This powerful work, which resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, serves as a crucial document in tracing the development of the artist's graphic output. As an important example of prints from the Romantic period, it is frequently referenced by scholars and is included in the museum’s public domain resources.