Hamlet and Laertes at the Tomb of Ophelia 1838 - 1848

Eugène Delacroix created this pencil drawing, *Hamlet and Laertes at the Tomb of Ophelia*, in the 19th century. Delacroix was a leading figure in the French Romantic movement, and here he captures a key scene from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, using dramatic gestures and intense emotion. The cultural context of 19th-century France is important to understanding this piece. The Romantic movement valued individual experience and emotion and favoured subjects from literature, history, and exotic locales. This interest in the dramatic and the emotional aligned well with the French theatre. Shakespeare enjoyed immense popularity in France and was often used to explore themes of morality and political authority. Delacroix depicts the moment when Hamlet and Laertes confront each other at Ophelia's funeral, delving into themes of grief, revenge, and the human condition. To fully understand Delacroix's artistic choices and their implications, scholars consult historical sources, literary analyses, and critical essays. This will allow one to appreciate the complex social and institutional factors that shape the meaning of art.