Faure in the Role of Hamlet
c. 1877
Medium
Etching on cream laid paper
Dimensions
Image: 27.6 × 17.6 cm (10 7/8 × 6 15/16 in.); Plate: 27.5 × 19.9 cm (10 7/8 × 7 7/8 in.); Sheet: 31.8 × 23.1 cm (12 9/16 × 9 1/8 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
140640
Art Historical Context
In the late 19th century, French artist Henri Charles Guérard captured the dramatic intensity of actor François-Joseph Faure in his role as Shakespeare's *Hamlet*. Created around 1877, this etching portrays Faure mid-performance, likely emphasizing the brooding prince's introspective gaze and theatrical poise. Guérard, a skilled printmaker associated with the Impressionist circle friends with Edgar Degas excelled in lively depictions of Parisian cultural life, including theater scenes that bridged art and popular entertainment. Etching on cream laid paper allowed Guérard to achieve exquisite ...