Wild Horse, or Frightened Horse Leaving the Water

Wild Horse, or Frightened Horse Leaving the Water by Eugène Delacroix French, 1798-1863, created in 1828, is a superb example of the Romantic movement’s focus on intense emotion and dramatic action. This powerful image was realized as a lithograph, executed in black ink on white wove paper. Delacroix was among the leading artists in France exploring the capabilities of the relatively new medium of lithography during the 1820s, appreciating its capacity for expressive spontaneity and rich tonal variation that mirrored the gestural qualities of painting.

Delacroix captures the visceral moment of the animal’s desperate flight. The horse lunges upward and away, its neck severely arched and eyes wide with terror, having perhaps just emerged from a body of water indicated by the heavy shadow and turbulent lines below. The subject matter rejects the cool Neoclassicism dominant during the period, favoring instead the untamed power and psychological depth inherent in nature and its creatures. The movement is rendered through energetic lines and deep chiaroscuro, techniques that the artist mastered in his production of prints. Delacroix’s masterful control over the lithographic crayon allows the shadows to build dramatic tension, emphasizing the taut musculature and terrified expression of the equine subject against the stark white ground.

As one of the most significant works among Delacroix's celebrated prints, the image reflects his deep fascination with themes of animal struggle and high drama, common motifs throughout his oeuvre. The original impression resides in the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. While this specific piece belongs to a curated collection, high-resolution reproductions of Delacroix's lithographs are frequently available via the public domain, allowing wide access to the technical brilliance of this French Romantic artist.