art

Chelsea Woods

PHL 360-001

March 9, 2020

Professor Leibowitz

Women of Algiers

Women of Algiers is one of the most famous paintings by Eugene Delacriox

(1798-1863). During the Neoclassical era, this painting emphasized formal clarity,

intricate details, and smooth textures. The review focused on these attributes of the

painting and expressed great admiration towards the artist. The author of the review

goes into explain how the style that Delacriox had chosen shows style in fluidity,

expressive brushwork, intricate compositions, and high contrasts of light and dark,

ultimately creating a romanticized theme to the painting.

The review mainly pertains to the specific painting, Women of Algiers, but it did

also include information about the history of the painting as well as the introduction of

other pieces that Delacroix had completed. The author went onto explain the characters

within the painting and how they contribute to the style of art. They note that the various

women are languorous and sultry, or alert and attentive. They move onto focus on the

details of the painting and how the painting could be brought into a sensual experience.

For example, the author explains how the air within that room must have smelt of

incense, flowers, and smoke from the hookah resulting in a production that has an

influence of intimacy adding to the romantic theme.

The background of how Delacroix came to choose such a piece was quite

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interesting. It was explained that Delacriox accompanied the Duc de Mornay’s

diplomatic mission to Morocco as its official visual documentarian. Delacriox was

entranced by the sensualism and exoticism of morocco and obtained special permission

to enter a harem and paint its odalisques.

Comparison to similar artists gave context to the art piece as well. Specifically

mentioning Jean-Auguste-Dominique and her neoclassical version of Grande Odalisque

which also has references to the exotic with lush fabrics, peacock feathers, a jeweled

headdress, and a hookah. The piece in comparison has less of the romantic details but

Grande Odalisque still attains exact forms and line, smooth texture, and fine details. By

having another piece of art to compare the one in review to, I feel that this gives the

audience something to compare another piece of art that is similar but not exact to.

The purpose of writing so much background information about the artist’s

experience is essential to understanding the artist’s piece. I feel that information as such

really helps emphasize how Morocco was when an outsider explored the area.

Delacriox most likely noticed things about the area that a native wouldn't of, ultimately

allowing him to see something exotic as inspiration for a piece of art.

I feel that this review was informative. There was history about the painting that I

was unaware of and that I feel was helpful for the background of what was painted. The

author had given much context about the feeling behind the piece and how the artist

utilized their abilities to create. I feel that more context about how the artist had created

the piece would have been helpful. For example, how did the artist attain a brush-less

style of painting? What influenced the artist to choose the style of coloring that he did? I

feel that background to these questions could be beneficial to understanding how the

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artist completes their process of creating art.

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