Faust (1925) Illustrated by Harry Clarke

The 1925 edition of Faust, illustrated by Irish artist Harry Clarke, is one of the most iconic visual interpretations of Goethe’s masterwork. This richly symbolic tragedy, translated into English and published by George G. Harrap & Co., explores the eternal struggle between knowledge and desire, salvation and damnation. Clarke’s edition was among the first to present Faust with such intense, gothic visual drama, transforming the experience of the text for generations of readers and collectors.

Goethe’s Faust is a landmark in Western literature, chronicling the story of the learned Doctor Faust who makes a pact with the devil, Mephistopheles, trading his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. Goethe’s treatment is deeply philosophical and poetic, filled with classical allusions, theological reflection, and existential insight.

Clarke’s illustrations powerfully complement the themes of the text. This edition features 20 full-page plates, of which 8 are color plates, each brimming with intense line work, hypnotic detailing, and macabre beauty. Clarke’s Mephistopheles is at once elegant and terrifying, while his depictions of Faust and Margarete (Gretchen) emphasize emotional and psychological tension. His use of contrast, ornamental flourishes, and theatrical composition makes each image stand as a haunting work of art on its own.

About the Illustrator Harry Clarke:
Harry Clarke (1889–1931) was an Irish stained-glass artist and book illustrator known for his richly detailed and highly stylized aesthetic. A central figure in the Irish Arts and Crafts movement, Clarke brought the precision and luminosity of stained glass into his pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations. His works are marked by gothic intensity, intricate design, and often eerie beauty. In Faust, Clarke’s style is at its most dramatic and visionary, capturing the grandeur and horror of Goethe’s themes with unmatched visual poetry.

For collectors:

• Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe, illustrated by Harry Clarke (1919) – Clarke’s breakthrough work showing his earlier gothic style
• The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, illustrated by Gustave Doré (1861-1868) – Another visionary interpretation of a literary masterpiece
• The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, illustrated by Gustave Doré (1876) – A complementary romantic work with supernatural themes

Other books illustrated by the great Harry Clarke are also available for perusal in our gallery: The Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault, Selected Poems of Charles Swinburne, Tales of Mystery and Imagination, Andersen’s Fairy Tales, Year’s at the Spring.

Art Gallery: Harry Clarke – Faust 1925