Hamlet devant le corps de Polonius 1854 - 1856

Eugène Delacroix's "Hamlet devant le corps de Polonius" is made with oil paints, applied to create a scene of theatrical intensity. Delacroix was a master of using the brush to evoke texture, weight, and form. Look at the way the red curtain dominates the composition; it’s not just a backdrop, but a heavy, almost suffocating presence, achieved through layers of thick paint. Consider the social context: oil painting, by this time, was an established medium deeply embedded in the culture of patronage and the art market. Delacroix, like other painters, relied on suppliers for his pigments, brushes, and canvas, all of which were produced through extensive labor. The richness of the colors and the drama of the scene are only possible because of the complex system of production that underpinned it. So when you look at this painting, think about not just the artist's vision, but also the many hands and materials that made that vision possible.