The Play-Within-A-Play

The Play-Within-A-Play is a highly evocative lithograph created by Eugène Delacroix in 1835. Classified as a print, this powerful work is recorded as the second state of three, illustrating the meticulous development undertaken by the artist before reaching the final published version.

The subject is drawn directly from the dramatic climax of William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet. Delacroix depicts Act III, Scene 2, commonly referred to as "The Mousetrap," where the central character stages a play designed to mimic the murder of his father. The intense expressions of the men and women observing the performance reveal the instant that King Claudius’s guilt is exposed.

As a principal figure of the French Romantic movement, Delacroix frequently chose historical and literary subjects that allowed for high emotional saturation. His choice of the lithograph medium, which was gaining popularity in the mid-19th century, enabled him to achieve rich, painterly blacks and sharp contrasts, effectively illuminating the psychological drama unfolding in the shadowed interior. This particular piece emphasizes the artist's technical mastery in balancing dramatic action with focused observation.

The work is a testament to Delacroix's deep and career-long engagement with Shakespearean narrative, reinforcing the era’s fascination with English literature. Such historically significant prints by the artist from 1835 are crucial for understanding the dissemination of Romantic ideals in Europe. Today, this important classification resides within the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Prints of Delacroix’s graphic works, due to their age and renown, are often widely available for study through public domain art resources.