Young Moroccan, Standing

Young Moroccan, Standing by Eugène Delacroix, executed in 1832, is a remarkable example of the immediacy and vitality Delacroix achieved in his travel sketches. Classified as a drawing, this piece utilizes watercolor over pen and brown ink, a medium that allowed the artist to quickly capture the color and essence of the figures he encountered. This work originates from the artist's pivotal journey to North Africa, a diplomatic mission with Count Charles de Mornay that fundamentally reshaped European Romantic painting through the lens of Orientalism.

The composition centers on the standing figure of a young man, observed with penetrating detail. Delacroix sought authentic visual references, moving away from idealized studio depictions toward direct observation of the Men and life he witnessed in Morocco. His rapid sketches document the local character, attire, and posture of his subjects, providing an invaluable record that would inform his grander oil paintings for decades. The subtle washes of watercolor here demonstrate Delacroix’s masterful ability to convey volume and atmospheric light, transforming a quick drawing into a vibrant study of humanity.

As a foundational work illustrating the artist’s process and his profound engagement with the non-European world, Young Moroccan, Standing is housed in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Due to the historical nature of the original piece, high-quality photographic reproductions and fine art prints are often sourced from museum archives and public domain initiatives, ensuring broad access to the work of this French master.