A Turk Saddling His Horse

"A Turk Saddling His Horse" is a profoundly rare print created by the French Romantic master Eugène Delacroix in 1824. This early graphic work is executed in aquatint, printed in rich black ink on heavy wove paper. Its singularity is heightened by Delacroix’s direct involvement, featuring subtle additions made by hand in graphite, a unique characteristic that confirms its status as a highly unusual piece within the artist’s broader graphic output.

Delacroix’s early career was heavily influenced by exoticism and the Romantic notions of the Near East, themes that informed his Orientalist works even prior to his transformative journey to North Africa in 1832. The subject focuses on the intimate interaction between men and horses, depicting a figure described as "A Turk" meticulously preparing his powerful mount. This emphasis on dynamic equine anatomy and dramatic human action became a defining motif in Delacroix’s subsequent paintings and drawings. The overall composition reflects the period's pervasive fascination with powerful, non-European cultures.

As a crucial example of the artist’s early experiments in printmaking, this A Turk Saddling His Horse aquatint showcases his adaptation of tonal etching techniques to achieve dramatic chiaroscuro effects, utilizing the aquatint medium to generate deep textural shadows. Prints such as this were foundational to his technical development. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this exceptional and rare impression in its permanent collection, recognizing its historical value both as a graphic masterwork and as a study in 19th-century French Romanticism. Although this specific hand-touched state is exceedingly rare, Delacroix's influential body of work ensures that his images are frequently studied, often entering the public domain.