Faust and Gretchen

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's tragedy "Faust" is regarded as the most important and most widely-received work of German-language literature and there are numerous illustrations to the famous drama, which are mostly engravings and lithographs. Pedro Américo created one of the few paintings that reflects not so much a concrete scene as the character constellation of the piece as such. Margarete gesticulates almost reluctantly, has folded her hands as if in prayer and looks away from Faust, who kisses her bent forward, facing away from the window. In the background half hidden by the curtain and in the shadow of Mephistopheles, "the spirit that always denies", the devil himself, who has arranged the whole scene.