Study of Sky, Setting Sun 1849

Curator: This is Eugène Delacroix's "Study of Sky, Setting Sun," painted around 1849. Delacroix, of course, was a central figure in the Romantic movement, and he created this work en plein-air, utilizing primarily watercolor techniques to capture the transient beauty of the natural world. Editor: It's incredibly tranquil, isn’t it? The pastel shades feel like a gentle exhalation. The sun, barely a smudge of pink, suggests closure and peace. Even the cliffs in the foreground are rendered with a soft, muted energy. Curator: The Romantic period prized these sort of fleeting atmospheric effects, seeing them as emblems of the sublime. Delacroix's choice of watercolor aligns perfectly with that sensibility—quick, immediate, and perfect for capturing light. Think about the art world at the time—plein-air was only just becoming acceptable in the salons. Editor: Water carries immense symbolic weight. Spiritually, it often mirrors transition, cleansing, and the subconscious. This image could be construed as symbolic of day melting into night, life yielding to death, despair replaced by hope…it is so muted but intense. The singular horizon almost bisects those different realms and energies. Curator: Delacroix, though recognized and exhibited at the Salon, still had to navigate institutional expectations. Producing landscapes, especially these ‘studies,’ was a way to engage with nature and the picturesque while simultaneously contributing to a broader discourse about realism in art. It wasn’t simply about capturing a sunset; it was about staking a claim within the art world. Editor: And think about the Romantic concept of the artist, now: the lonely soul confronting the awesome power of nature, externalizing internal struggles through art. That lone sunset, viewed across the sea – is the artist's mind trying to deal with things beyond normal comprehension, I feel. Delacroix captures that emotion perfectly here. Curator: Ultimately, I agree with you: in this watercolor sketch, Delacroix gives us both a technical exercise and a deep Romantic engagement with the poetics of the natural world. Editor: Exactly. Next time I watch the sun go down, I’ll certainly think differently after observing this emotive watercolor and light play of sky.