Mephistopheles Receiving the Student 1828

"Mephistopheles Receiving the Student" is a lithograph created in 1828 by Eugène Delacroix. This print depicts a scene from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's play "Faust," where Mephistopheles, a devil, offers a student a deal to gain knowledge and worldly pleasures. Delacroix's skilled use of light and shadow creates a dramatic and eerie atmosphere, emphasizing the tension between the two figures. This work is considered a significant example of Romanticism, reflecting the era's interest in the supernatural, emotion, and the exploration of human desire. The print is held in The Art Institute of Chicago.