Collision of Moorish Horsemen

Collision of Moorish Horsemen is a powerful etching created by Eugène Delacroix in 1834. This work is classified as the only state of the print and captures the dynamic energy of a violent encounter, typical of Delacroix’s Romantic fascination with North African subjects. The scene depicts two groups of mounted men engaged in a highly kinetic struggle, a subject inspired by the artist’s seminal 1832 trip to Morocco and Algeria.

Delacroix, a leading figure of French Romanticism, frequently translated his sketches from this journey into ambitious studio works, creating the foundation for a significant body of Orientalist art. This print specifically focuses on the chaotic action of cavalry conflict. The composition emphasizes the powerful musculature of the horses and the frantic movements of the men, who are shown wielding various weapons characteristic of Moorish culture, including spears and curved scimitars. The intensity of the conflict is heightened by the technical mastery of the etching medium, which allows for bold contrasts that underscore the clash between the figures and the resulting cloud of dust and chaos.

This piece demonstrates Delacroix’s skill in rendering complex, chaotic action within a tightly defined space, proving his capability not just as a painter but also as a highly sophisticated printmaker. Works like this contributed significantly to the Western European aesthetic of Orientalism throughout the 19th century. This important example of French Romantic prints is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a key reference for understanding Delacroix’s prolific career across drawing and graphic media.