Two Studies of an Indian from Calcutta, Seated and Standing
1823 National Gallery of Art
About this artwork
This oil painting features two studies of an Indian man, one standing and holding a staff, the other seated. Both figures are depicted in traditional garments against a dark background, showcasing Delacroix's interest in ethnographic subjects.
Did you know?
Eugène Delacroix, a leading figure of French Romanticism, was captivated by exotic subjects, often drawing inspiration from accounts and depictions of North Africa and the Middle East, even though he himself only traveled to North Africa later in his career. This particular work, created in 1823, predates his famous trip to Morocco and Algeria in 1832, suggesting he might have relied on engravings, books, or living models in Paris to create these studies of an Indian man, reflecting a widespread 'Orientalist' fascination in Europe at the time.
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Two Studies of an Indian from Calcutta, Seated and Standing
Eugène Delacroix, 1823
