Self-portrait as Hamlet (1821) by Eugene Delacroix

Self-portrait as Hamlet - Eugene Delacroix - 1821

Artwork Information

TitleSelf-portrait as Hamlet
ArtistEugene Delacroix
Date1821
Mediumoil,canvas
Dimensions41 x 33 cm
Art MovementRomanticism
Current LocationMusée national Eugène Delacroix, Paris, France

About Self-portrait as Hamlet

The artwork “Self-portrait as Hamlet” is an oil on canvas painting created by the French Romantic artist Eugene Delacroix in 1821. Measuring 41 by 33 centimeters, it is a self-portrait that casts the artist in the role of Hamlet, a character from Shakespeare’s eponymous tragedy. This painting is a notable example of the Romanticism art movement and is currently housed at the Musée national Eugène Delacroix in Paris, France.

The artwork depicts a somber and introspective mood, as is fitting for the tragic Shakespearean character it seeks to embody. Delacroix has represented himself as Hamlet dressed in black, standing full-length, and slightly turned to his left with a dramatic archway serving as a backdrop. The lighting and shadow play a crucial role in illustrating the emotional gravity of the scene. Delacroix’s facial expression is pensive and apprehensive, which aligns with Hamlet’s philosophical and existential angst. The brushstrokes appear vigorous and loose, adding to the intense emotional effect characterizing the Romantic movement’s focus on individual feeling and personal experience. The costume and the setting evoke the atmosphere of the Elizabethan era, allowing viewers to be transported into the narrative world of Hamlet, thus merging the realms of visual art and literature through Delacroix’s artistic genius.

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