Two Studies of a Standing Indian from Calcutta

The oil on canvas painting, Two Studies of a Standing Indian from Calcutta, was created by Eugène Delacroix between 1823 and 1824. This early work exemplifies the French artist’s intense engagement with exotic subject matter, a thematic preoccupation that would define the Romantic period. The piece functions as a study, utilizing two separate, full-length sketches of a single figure on the same support, likely a professional model available in Paris, dressed in traditional South Asian attire.

Created during the period of 1801 to 1825, this work predates Delacroix’s seminal 1832 journey to North Africa, suggesting his initial visual inspiration for Eastern costume was drawn from literary accounts, contemporary prints, or studio resources. The composition allows Delacroix to explore complex posture and the handling of voluminous drapery across both figures. The study on the left captures the figure in a dynamic, contrapposto stance, its face largely obscured by shadow, placing the visual emphasis instead on the texture and expressive folds of the cloth wrapped around the body. By contrast, the study on the right is more static and centered, allowing Delacroix to examine the effects of illumination and shadow on the vibrant fabrics and headwear. The resulting rapid, expressive technique, characterized by loose brushwork, is highly characteristic of the Romantic movement's embrace of feeling and color over strict Neoclassical line.

This important canvas highlights Delacroix’s pursuit of dynamic composition and expressive color, themes he would perfect in later, grander masterpieces. The work resides today in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., confirming its significance in the artist’s early oeuvre. As is common with many foundational pieces from the 19th century, the image is often made available in the public domain, allowing enthusiasts and scholars globally to study the composition through high-quality prints and reproductions.