Head, Shoulder, and Foot, Studies for ‘Scenes from the Chios Massacres’ 1823

This preparatory sketch for Delacroix’s painting “Scenes from the Chios Massacres” is a study of human anatomy. The work depicts studies of a head, shoulder, foot, and various facial expressions. The rough, yet meticulous graphite strokes showcase the artist’s technical skill in capturing the human form. This study, created in 1823, is representative of the Romanticism era, known for its focus on emotion, nature, and the individual. It foreshadows the dramatic realism and pathos of the finished painting, which depicts the atrocities committed against the Greek population on the island of Chios during the Greek War of Independence. This preparatory work allows art-lovers to see the process of creation and understand Delacroix’s approach to depicting the human body and its expressions of suffering and resilience.