Écorché: Three Studies of a Shoulder

Écorché: Three Studies of a Shoulder is a compelling drawing by Eugène Delacroix, executed sometime during the lengthy period between 1815 and 1863. This anatomical study is rendered using a sophisticated mixture of red and black fabricated chalk, commonly known as sanguine and black chalk, accented by graphite. The medium lends itself perfectly to academic exploration, allowing the artist to define both the mass and the intricate texture of exposed musculature. The composition features three distinct views of the shoulder joint and surrounding tissues, demonstrating Delacroix's intensive effort to master the human form.

Delacroix, the preeminent figure of French Romanticism, consistently engaged in rigorous academic exercises, utilizing such écorché drawings to grasp the underlying structure necessary for his emotionally charged narrative paintings. The deliberate contrast between the red and black chalk highlights the complex interplay of shadow and light, emphasizing volumetric depth rather than mere contour lines. Even as a mature artist, Delacroix continued these anatomical explorations, viewing them as essential tools for achieving expressive realism in his heroic scenes.

This foundational piece offers direct insight into the technical preparation that fueled the artist's dramatic style. It currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Due to the historical importance of the work and the artist, high-quality prints and reproductions of Écorché: Three Studies of a Shoulder are frequently made available through public domain archives, allowing students and enthusiasts worldwide to study Delacroix's profound commitment to anatomical accuracy.