The Murder of Polonius

"The Murder of Polonius," by Eugène Delacroix, is a powerful example of 19th-century French Romantic printmaking, executed between 1834 and 1843. Classified as a print, this specific impression is a lithograph, identified as the second state of three. This technical classification highlights Delacroix's engagement with the rapidly evolving medium of lithography, which allowed him to achieve dramatic chiaroscuro and textural effects unlike traditional etching. Delacroix, a keen interpreter of literature, devoted a significant portion of his career to exploring the tragedies of William Shakespeare.

The scene depicted derives from Hamlet, focusing on the climax of Act III, Scene 4. The composition captures the titular character confronting his mother, Queen Gertrude, immediately after he has mistakenly killed Polonius, who was hiding behind the arras. The dramatic tension is heightened by the visual language of the medium, which uses sharp contrasts to isolate the figures. Hamlet, often shown leaning on or brandishing his swords in the aftermath of the killing, dominates the central space, while the forms of the men and women involved are dramatically illuminated against the darkness of the chamber. Delacroix masterfully employs light and shadow to emphasize the psychological turmoil central to Shakespeare's play and the violent consequences of the encounter.

This historically significant print is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a crucial document of Delacroix’s profound influence on subsequent graphic arts. Prints inspired by Delacroix’s powerful Shakespearean themes were widely disseminated, cementing his reputation as a leading figure of the Romantic movement and demonstrating his inventive approach to integrating literature and visual art.