Study for ‘The Sultan of Morocco and His Entourage’ 1832 - 1833

This is Eugène Delacroix's sketch, ‘Study for ‘The Sultan of Morocco and His Entourage’’. It is made with ink and wash on paper. The composition is immediately striking for its dynamic energy. Delacroix employs swift, gestural lines to capture the scene. Notice how he juxtaposes the detailed rendering of the Sultan on horseback with the blurred lines of the figures. The artist uses a limited tonal range, relying on the contrast between the ink and the bare paper to create depth and movement. Delacroix was fascinated by the interplay between the individual and the collective. The Sultan is rendered with a degree of specificity, while the entourage dissolves into a sea of indistinct forms. Here, the visible brushstrokes are essential as they record the artist's immediate response and convey a sense of spontaneity and authenticity. This sketch challenges fixed modes of representation, capturing a fleeting moment in time.