Macbeth and the Witches

Macbeth is depicted on the left, dressed in a tunic and kilt, standing with a stoic, rigid posture and his arms crossed over his chest. To the right, three elderly, wild-haired witches crouch and gesture toward a steaming cauldron positioned between them and Macbeth. The scene is dominated by dark, dense cross-hatching and ink washes that create an atmosphere of murkiness and supernatural gloom, with the light source appearing to emanate from the fire beneath the cauldron. The figures are rendered with expressive, agitated lines typical of Delacroix's printmaking style, emphasizing the tension of the encounter.

This lithograph illustrates a pivotal scene from William Shakespeare's tragedy 'Macbeth' (Act 4, Scene 1), where the protagonist seeks further prophecy from the Weird Sisters. It connects to the broader cultural interest in witchcraft and the uncanny during the Romantic period.