The Smoker 

Eugène Delacroix made this painting with oil on canvas, likely in the 1830s, after his trip to North Africa. Here, the loose, fluid brushstrokes and vibrant colors capture the sensuous atmosphere of the scene. Oil paint, with its ability to blend and layer, was ideal for conveying the rich textures of fabrics and the hazy quality of the light. The cultural significance of the painting lies in its Orientalist depiction of the East, reflecting European fantasies and colonial power dynamics. Delacroix's rapid, expressive technique mirrors the Romantic movement's fascination with the exotic, while also revealing the labor of representation involved in constructing these images. By focusing on the materiality of the painting, we can better understand its complex relationship to themes of identity, power, and cultural exchange.