The Death of Hamlet (Act V, Scene II)

The Death of Hamlet (Act V, Scene II) by Eugène Delacroix, executed in 1843, is a powerful example of the artist's deep and lifelong engagement with the dramas of William Shakespeare. Classified as part of a significant graphic arts Portfolio, this work is a lithograph, a planographic printing technique Delacroix frequently utilized to disseminate his interpretations of literary classics across Europe.

This piece captures the climax of the tragedy, depicting the chaotic final moments on stage 5, scene 2, where the dying Prince Hamlet is surrounded by the bodies of the King, Queen, and Laertes. Delacroix masterfully uses the high contrast available through the lithographic medium to emphasize the somber mood and the immediacy of death, employing dramatic shadow and light (chiaroscuro) characteristic of the French Romantic movement prevalent during the period of 1826 to 1850.

Delacroix was known for seeking out moments of extreme passion and psychological intensity in literature. His treatment of the subject avoids neoclassical restraint, instead favoring the dynamic composition and overt emotional expression that defined his career. He created a renowned set of illustrations dedicated entirely to Hamlet, influencing subsequent generations of artists and demonstrating his profound understanding of the play’s narrative weight.

As a key figure of his era, Delacroix ensured that many of his most dramatic compositions were realized as prints, maximizing their reach. This particular impression of The Death of Hamlet (Act V, Scene II) resides in the comprehensive collection of the National Gallery of Art. Today, prints of this historically significant French artwork, created during the zenith of the artist’s powers, are frequently digitized and made available for research through public domain initiatives.