Prelude to Lohengrin 1898

Henri Fantin-Latour's "Prelude to Lohengrin" (1898) is a black and white etching that depicts a scene from Richard Wagner's opera "Lohengrin." In the center of the composition, an angel with large wings holds a vessel high above her head, while angels below look up in reverence. The etching captures the ethereal and dramatic quality of the opera's opening scene, which features the arrival of Lohengrin, a knight sent by God to help Elsa of Brabant. The use of soft lines and shading contributes to the dreamy and mystical atmosphere of the scene.