City wall of Meknes (Morocco from the sketchbook) 1832

Here is Eugène Delacroix's evocative watercolor and pencil sketch, "City Wall of Meknes," captured during his 1832 journey to Morocco. Delacroix, a leading French Romantic painter, sought inspiration outside Europe, reflecting the era's fascination with the "Orient." His journey came shortly after France began its colonial expansion into North Africa with the invasion of Algeria in 1830. This sketchbook page offers fragmented glimpses of Meknes, its architecture, and inhabitants. Delacroix's quick, fluid lines capture the immediacy of his observations, yet it is hard to look past that this is portrayed through a colonial lens, which emphasizes the "exotic" and "picturesque." The artist doesn’t engage deeply with the social realities of Morocco but rather with the visual spectacle of the city. The artwork reflects broader questions about representation, power dynamics, and the Western gaze. It’s a document of a specific historical moment and personal encounter, laden with the complexities of cultural exchange.