The Murder of Polonius, plate 9 from Hamlet

The Murder of Polonius, plate 9 from Hamlet by Eugène Delacroix French, 1798-1863, is a powerful example of Romantic graphic art. This dramatic print was created between 1835 and 1843 as part of a major series illustrating William Shakespeare’s tragedy. Delacroix executed the work using the challenging technique of lithography, printing the scene in black ink on delicate ivory China paper, which was subsequently laid down on a sturdier white wove support.

Delacroix, a leading figure of 19th-century French Romanticism, frequently turned to literary sources for inspiration, finding in Shakespearean drama the intense emotion and psychological depth characteristic of his style. The lithograph depicts the highly dramatic scene where Hamlet, hearing a noise behind the arras and believing he has found King Claudius eavesdropping, fatally stabs the true occupant, Polonius. Delacroix’s mastery of the medium is evident in the stark contrasts and expressive lighting achieved through the lithographic process, emphasizing the claustrophobia, violence, and immediacy of the confrontation. The artist used rich blacks and deep shadows to heighten the emotional tension, positioning this piece firmly within the tradition of French academic yet passionate illustration.

This sequence of prints is highly regarded within Delacroix’s graphic output. Created in France during a period of intense artistic focus on historical and literary subjects, the series cemented the artist's reputation as a masterful translator of poetic texts into visual drama. The historical significance of this work is recognized globally; like many 19th-century works by this artist, high-resolution images of these master prints are often utilized in educational contexts, reflecting their eventual status in the public domain. This particular impression of The Murder of Polonius is held in the comprehensive collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.