The artwork titled “Odalisque” was created by Eugene Delacroix, a preeminent painter of the 19th century. Believed to have been completed around 1825, this oil on canvas is a representative work of the Orientalist art movement. The nude painting, which depicts a reclining female figure in a sumptuous and exotic setting, is housed in the Fitzwilliam Museum, part of the University of Cambridge, located in Cambridge, UK.
“Odalisque” by Eugene Delacroix portrays a nude woman lying on her side on a daybed, her body turned towards the viewer. Her head, adorned with loosely styled hair, is tilted back in a relaxed or possibly languid pose, and her gaze does not engage with the viewer, adding to the sense of distance and unattainability. The softness of the flesh is rendered with a luminous palette, highlighting the contrasts between the warm tones of her skin and the cool, dark backdrop. The daybed is draped with rich, red fabric that underscores the sensuality of the scene. Around her, accoutrements of the Orient, like the water pipe near the daybed, hint at a cultural context associated with luxury and leisure. Delacroix’s skillful brushwork and use of color emphasize the eroticism and ornamentation typical of the Orientalism movement, which was fascinated with Eastern motifs and scenarios.