The Damnation of Faust: The Appearance of Marguerite 1888

Henri Fantin-Latour created this lithograph, 'The Damnation of Faust: The Appearance of Marguerite' in the late 19th century, a time of burgeoning interest in Romantic literature and music. Fantin-Latour was deeply inspired by the opera, "The Damnation of Faust", and other works by Hector Berlioz. In this print, Marguerite appears as a vision, both ethereal and grounded. Fantin-Latour often challenged conventional representations of women. Here, Marguerite is neither idealized nor degraded, but presented as a complex figure caught between the earthly and the divine. Note how the artist captures her emotional vulnerability in her posture and averted gaze. Fantin-Latour’s work often explores the tension between inner emotional states and external appearances. The shadowy figures in the background might represent the societal expectations and moral judgments that weigh on Marguerite. This piece invites us to consider the artist's dialogue with prevailing social norms, and the expressive potential of lithography to convey psychological depth.