Turk Mounting His Horse

Turk Mounting His Horse is a significant early print created by Eugène Delacroix in 1824. This work is classified as an aquatint, a tonal etching technique which Delacroix employed masterfully to achieve rich, atmospheric effects. Cataloged as probably the first state of two, this print reflects the artist’s burgeoning interest in printmaking during the mid-1820s, a period when he was establishing himself as a leader of the Romantic movement in France.

The subject matter focuses on the dynamic interaction between men and their powerful horses, capturing a moment of preparation or transition. Delacroix’s choice of a Turkish or Ottoman subject aligns with the popular 19th-century Romantic fascination with North Africa and the Near East, known broadly as Orientalism. The composition emphasizes movement and exotic costume, characteristic hallmarks of Delacroix’s dramatic narrative style. Unlike many of his later oil paintings, this print relies heavily on intense contrasts of light and shadow achieved through the aquatint ground, lending the scene a distinctive emotional intensity.

This powerful graphic work demonstrates Delacroix’s skill in rendering complex, narrative subjects using purely graphic means. As a key example of early Romantic prints, Turk Mounting His Horse offers valuable insight into the artist's exploration of non-traditional media and his stylistic development before his major trips to Morocco. Today, this impression is part of the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and reproductions of the work are often made available through public domain resources, allowing broader access to Delacroix’s innovative graphic output.