Lion Hunt in Morocco 1854

Eugène Delacroix’s “Lion Hunt in Morocco,” now at the Hermitage Museum, employs oil paint, a medium that carries its own complex history. Think about it: extracting pigments, refining oils, the factory production of canvas supports. All these processes, seemingly distant from the artist's hand, underpin the image. The material itself – viscous, luminous – allows Delacroix to capture the drama of the hunt with those swirling brushstrokes. Look closely, and you can see how the materiality of the paint contributes to the emotional intensity of the scene. The thick impasto, particularly in the figures’ clothing, conveys texture and movement, almost as if the paint itself is caught up in the action. The quick, expressive brushwork speaks of urgency, and indeed of the modern painter’s need to capture a fleeting moment. Delacroix exploits the inherent qualities of oil paint, pushing its potential for color, light, and texture to full effect. In doing so, he acknowledges the expanded field of artistic creation, and the many hands – seen and unseen – that play a role.