Juive de Tanger en costume d’appart 

Eugène Delacroix painted this portrait of a Jewish woman from Tangier in 1832 using oil on canvas. Delacroix was part of a delegation to Morocco, and this painting reflects the 19th-century Orientalist fascination with North Africa. But what does it mean to represent another culture? How does one avoid merely exoticizing it? Delacroix's painting can be seen as participating in a long history of Western artists depicting non-Western subjects, often reinforcing stereotypes and power dynamics. The woman's elaborate costume and jewelry, while accurately depicting local fashion, also contribute to an image of exotic otherness. To truly understand this work, we can consult travel literature from this period, research on Jewish communities in Morocco, and studies of Orientalism in art history. By situating Delacroix's painting in its social and institutional context, we can gain a deeper understanding of its historical significance and cultural impact.