Studies of Figures, Horses and Dogs 

This is one of Eugène Delacroix’s many preparatory sketches, composed on paper with graphite. These studies of figures, horses and dogs are not just preliminary sketches but a way for Delacroix to work through the physical forms of the figures he would later depict in paint. Graphite allowed him to capture the essence of movement and anatomy, honing his skills in capturing dynamic scenes. The paper itself, likely chosen for its smooth surface, would have facilitated the swift, expressive strokes characteristic of Delacroix's hand. In the hierarchy of 19th-century art production, drawing was deemed subordinate to painting; it was a means to an end. Yet we can also see this sketch as an end in itself. The raw energy captured in graphite is something quite different from the finished polish of an oil painting. It reminds us of the fundamental value of craft processes in the artist’s work.