Studieblaadje met plantjes: witte kastanje Possibly 1853 - 1855

This is a study of white chestnut plants, sketched by Eugène Delacroix with graphite on paper. Delacroix, a leading figure of the Romantic movement in 19th-century France, was deeply influenced by the socio-political upheavals of his time, including the French Revolution. Delacroix, more than many of his peers, used a more emotional approach to his subjects, often emphasizing the importance of personal expression. Note how the loose, gestural lines here create a sense of immediacy, capturing the fleeting beauty of nature with honesty. As an artist working in a society undergoing rapid change, Delacroix grappled with questions of identity, freedom, and the relationship between the individual and the collective. His dedication to capturing the emotional intensity of human experience through form and color marks him as a profound Romantic voice. This sketch, then, becomes a personal reflection on nature's beauty and the artist's own place within it.