Eugène Delacroix: France’s Brooding Romantic
Revolutions, sex and violence — the spirit of France
Eugène Delacroix was one of the most renowned artists of his day. His paintings are still famous the world over, with the above Liberty Leading the People, being one of the most recognisable paintings to come out of the Romantic movement.
Much like his turbulent and revolutionary country changed history, Delacroix changed the face of art. And yet, it’s challenging to say what makes a Delacroix painting so good. They are technically magnificent, but no one loves art because of technicality. No, there’s a mood to Delacroix’s work, a certain wildness. He captures both civilization and a kind of lost primal world. It’s this convergence and dissonance we’ll look at today.
Life
Delacroix’s life was mostly one of charm and ease so we won’t spend too much time discussing it. The fourth son of a government official and a descendent of furniture makers for the French Kings, he had both the means and freedom to pursue a life in music and theatre. After he turned 17 though, his interests changed and he moved toward painting, studying under several…
