Mountain Landscape 1840 - 1850

This watercolor painting of a mountain landscape was made by Eugène Delacroix sometime in the mid-19th century. The artist has used watercolor, a medium favored for its portability and speed. This suggests that the painting may have been made ‘en plein air’, capturing a fleeting impression of a mountain scene. The thin washes of color, applied with loose brushwork, create a sense of atmosphere and light. We get a feeling that he may have captured the mountains in the heat of the day, as reflected in the muted and bleached out colors. Delacroix's painting demonstrates how even seemingly simple materials, like paper and watercolor, can be used to capture complex visual experiences. This work serves as a reminder that the act of making is always tied to the artist's individual perspective and the world around them.