Standing Woman in Moroccan Costume

The influential French Romantic artist Eugène Delacroix created Standing Woman in Moroccan Costume between 1829 and 1839. This intimate work is classified as a drawing, executed using graphite and watercolor on wove paper. The blending of the subtle gray graphite outlines with the delicate washes of watercolor captures the texture and volume of the subject's clothing, demonstrating Delacroix's masterful control over mixed media studies and his emphasis on capturing immediate observation.

The drawing is highly representative of Delacroix’s intense fascination with North Africa, a region that profoundly shaped his career following his 1832 diplomatic mission to Morocco and Algeria. While the extended date range suggests this piece may be a study or a later refinement of earlier sketches, it clearly belongs to the visual catalog Delacroix built to inform his major Orientalist paintings. He meticulously recorded the details of local women’s apparel, using these preparatory works to lend authenticity and vibrant color to his grander studio compositions. This particular depiction focuses acutely on the structure and elaborate layering of the traditional Moroccan costume.

This significant drawing forms part of the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work offers direct insight into the preparatory methods and ethnographical interests of Delacroix during the height of the Romantic movement. Due to its age and cultural importance, the image often enters the public domain, making high-quality reproductions and prints accessible for educational and private study.