Two Standing Turks

Two Standing Turks, created by Eugène Delacroix, spans the years 1815 to 1868, reflecting the artist’s sustained interest in Eastern subjects throughout his career. This significant work is classified as a drawing and was executed meticulously in graphite. The choice of medium highlights Delacroix's exceptional technical skill as a draftsman, utilizing precise yet fluid lines to capture the posture and the detailed fabric of the subjects' clothing. The drawing technique suggests rapid observation and study, likely intended as a preparatory sketch or a reference piece for much larger, color-rich compositions.

The artwork falls within the broad category of Orientalism, a dominant aesthetic movement of the 19th century that profoundly shaped Delacroix’s artistic production. These two figures, identified as Turks, stand formally posed, their detailed attire providing the artist with material for costume studies. Although Delacroix is most famous for his travels to North Africa in the early 1830s, the extensive time frame attributed to the creation of this piece suggests it relates both to early studies and later refinements informed by his experiences abroad.

This piece offers valuable insight into the preparatory methods of the foremost French Romantic painter. The sensitivity of the graphite lines conveys the solidity of the forms while maintaining the dynamic energy characteristic of Delacroix's style. As an important example of this master's graphic output, the drawing is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its historical importance and collection status, high-resolution prints of this drawing are commonly available through public domain resources, allowing scholars and enthusiasts worldwide to study Delacroix's mastery of the figure.