The Wounded Goetz Cared for by the Bohemians

The Wounded Goetz Cared for by the Bohemians, executed by the major French Romantic artist Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863) in 1836, is a powerful example of the dramatic potential of printmaking during the Romantic period. This classification as a print was achieved through the sophisticated use of lithography in black. Delacroix further refined the image through the distinctive process of scraping on the stone, allowing him to pull back pigment for subtle highlights and textural variation crucial to rendering the dramatic indoor scene. The finished image is presented as a chine collé print, where the thin original off-white paper has been meticulously laid down onto a thicker ivory wove paper support.

Delacroix frequently returned to literary sources for inspiration, and this subject derives from the life of the German knight Goetz von Berlichingen, popularized in the 18th century by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s eponymous play. This literary connection aligns with the core principles of Romanticism pervasive in 19th-century France, emphasizing high emotion, heroism, and the dramatic interaction between individuals and fate. The scene captures the wounded Goetz receiving aid from nomadic travelers, highlighting a contrast between the historical European noble and the perceived freedom of the ‘Bohemians,’ a frequent subject of Romantic artists.

Delacroix’s skill in producing high-quality artistic prints ensured his visibility to a broad audience outside of traditional oil painting collectors. While highly detailed, the work retains the dynamic energy and expressive gesture characteristic of his broader style. This significant lithograph is part of the extensive collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a historical work from this important period of French art, high-resolution reproductions of these influential prints are often available through public domain initiatives, allowing for global study of Delacroix's important contribution to lithography.