Theodor von Holst’s Faust: a dreamlike and sensual dance

A favourite pupil of Henry Fuseli, Theodor Matthias von Holst staged Goethe’s Faust through a disturbing and visionary vision. Here darkness, the supernatural, and sensuality coexist in an original pictorial language. The work was inspired by the rarely depicted scene of Walpurgis Night, during which Faust and Mephistopheles dance with two witches. The composition is meant to be read from right to left: at the centre, the dancing couple dominates the moonlit clearing, with Faust – a self-portrait of the artist – being subjugated by the ghostly female figure, perhaps to be identified as Lilith, a witch with a marble pallor and hypnotic gestures, whose gaze hidden by long blond hair seems to be guiding Faust, as if by magic. Around the central couple, angelic and demonic figures, along with references to death and redemption, mark a balance between the abyss and salvation, generating both visual and emotional tension. The dark background is illuminated by the moonlight, bringing out a brilliant colouring and a theatrical use of the space.