Arabs of Oran 1847

Eugène Delacroix made this print, ‘Arabs of Oran’, using etching – a demanding printmaking technique. The plate would have been coated with wax, then the image drawn with a sharp needle to expose the metal. Immersed in acid, the lines were bitten into the surface, allowing for ink to be retained and transferred to paper. Look closely, and you'll see the result is a dense network of fine lines, capturing the texture of the men’s clothing and the arid landscape. Consider the labor involved in this meticulous process, and how it contrasts with the apparent idleness of the figures depicted. Delacroix was fascinated by North Africa, and this print reflects a broader European interest in the region, often filtered through a lens of Orientalism. The print would have been relatively inexpensive, and made available for mass consumption. The figures shown reflect the artist’s romantic interpretation of ‘Arab’ culture. This highlights how artistic techniques, like etching, can both capture and shape perceptions of different cultures within specific social and historical contexts.