The Consultation

The Consultation is an early lithograph executed by Eugène Delacroix (French, 1798-1863) in 1820, printed by the technical expert Charles Étienne Pierre Motte (French, 1785-1836). This striking work highlights Delacroix's engagement with the new print medium early in his career, establishing him as a pioneering figure in the French Romantic movement.

Created using black ink applied to white laid paper, the print demonstrates the dramatic potential of lithography. This technique, relatively new in France at the time, offered artists unprecedented freedom to achieve tonal subtleties and immediate, painterly effects that surpassed traditional etching or engraving. Delacroix leveraged the medium’s immediacy to create nuanced shading and intense contrast, qualities that would become hallmarks of his broader oeuvre. The collaboration with Motte, a noted lithographer, was essential in realizing the expressive potential of the stone.

Although the specific content of The Consultation is left to interpretation, the title suggests an intimate meeting or formal discussion, rendered with the vigorous line and shadow characteristic of the 1820s. This lithograph serves as a crucial document of Delacroix's evolving relationship with graphic arts, demonstrating his mastery over expressive lines and atmospheric density. As an important example of 19th-century French prints, this work resides in the esteemed permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As the copyright term on such historical prints expires, high-resolution reproductions often enter the public domain, ensuring global accessibility to the output of master printmakers like Delacroix.