The Crayfish at Longchamps

The Crayfish at Longchamps is a key early graphic work by Eugène Delacroix, executed in 1822. This piece is a lithograph, specifically the second state of two, demonstrating the artist’s technical engagement with printmaking early in his career. The medium of lithography allowed Delacroix to capture detail and atmosphere in this nuanced, dramatic scene of public life.

The work depicts a busy setting, likely near the Longchamps Abbey, a site famous during the period for its fashionable annual promenade and general festive atmosphere. The composition is centered around a group of Men, dressed in early 19th-century French attire, gathered near a stretch of water or an urban fountain. The title subject, the Fish (crayfish), suggests a momentary stop during a leisure excursion or a small commercial exchange observed by the artist.

In the background, numerous Trees define the park environment, providing visual depth, while strategically placed Flags add a dynamic, patriotic, or celebratory element to the overall scene, reinforcing the public and potentially theatrical nature of the gathering.

While Delacroix is most renowned for his revolutionary Romantic oil paintings, his output in prints provides valuable insight into his development as a draftsman and observer of societal dynamics. This particular image effectively captures the social life of Restoration-era Paris. The work is held within the esteemed graphic arts collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is studied as an important example of 19th-century French lithography. Dating from 1822, copies are frequently found in the public domain, making Delacroix's early graphic output widely accessible for academic and public enjoyment.