Blog Post One

Eugene Delacroix (26 April 1798 – 13 August 1863) was a romantic painter with great influence through his works. One of his most famous paintings is Liberty Leading the People (1830), Louvre, Paris which depicts a "figure of Liberty" leading the French people and holding a French flag high into the air. Delacroix’s painting represents the French romantic style as well as liberty, fraternity, and importantly French nationalism.

While Delacroix’s themes of nationalism are present in most of his paintings, he had a strong fascination with other cultures especially of the “orient”. Delacroix was so fascinated by North African culture that he spent 4 months capturing the lives of Arabs through sketches and paintings. One particular painting by Delacroix that I will focus on is titled Women of Algiers in their Apartment and it is pictured below.

 

Eugène Delacroix. Women of Algiers in their Apartment. 1834. Oil on canvas. 180 × 229cm. Louvre.

This painting was created by Delacroix after his visit to Algiers in 1832. A short background on the history of the piece and the time period; during this time Muslim women either stayed in home to take care of their children and when they went outside they wore veils, so it was difficult for Delacroix to find female subjects. In addition Europeans were not allowed to enter harems which were living quarters where the multiple wives or concubines of a male lives, and it is what this painting depicts. It is unknown today whether Delacroix was snuck inside this room with the women, if he was told about it by someone else, or if he came up with the scene in his imagination. But the closeness in which the scene happens has a dazzling effect on the viewer.

Because the women are so close to the forefront of the viewer, it makes it seem like the scene is happening right there in front of the viewer’s eyes. This perception of feeling like the viewer is in the room adds to a sense of intimacy. The physical closeness of the three women on the left also adds to a sense of intimacy felt from the painting. I believe that Delacroix was portraying these feelings of intimacy as a way to appeal to the exotic as well as erotic world that is so unlike that of France and other European countries. French culture was stifling at the time and this relaxed and inviting environment being portrayed attracts the interest of French and European people. The warm colors also create a comfortable environment which makes the viewer feel comfortable as well.

No matter if Eugene Delacroix created this image from memory or imagination, all in all I believe that he was simply sending a message of exotic beauty that is fascinating to the European audience. His enthrallment with this different culture shines through the beautiful portrayal of these women and their comfortable and contented life in Algiers.