Hamlet devant le corps de Polonius by Eugène Delacroix

Hamlet devant le corps de Polonius 1854 - 1856

eugenedelacroix

figurative

charcoal drawing

possibly oil pastel

oil painting

acrylic on canvas

portrait head and shoulder

underpainting

animal portrait

painting painterly

animal drawing portrait

watercolor

"Hamlet devant le corps de Polonius" (1854-1856) by Eugène Delacroix depicts a pivotal moment from Shakespeare's play *Hamlet*. The painting portrays the titular character, Hamlet, after he has killed Polonius, King Claudius's advisor. Hamlet is shown pulling back a curtain in a dramatic gesture, revealing Polonius's body lying on the floor. The painting captures the raw emotion and shock of the scene, a hallmark of Delacroix's Romantic style, which emphasized passion and emotion over classical restraint.