The artwork titled “Reclining Odalisque or, Woman with a Parakeet” is a creation of the renowned artist Eugene Delacroix, dating back to the year 1827. This piece embodies the attributes of the Romanticism art movement, utilizing oil as the medium on canvas. The dimensions of the artwork are relatively intimate, measuring 24.5 cm in height by 32.5 cm in width. The genre of this work falls under nude painting (nu), and it is currently housed at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, located in Lyon, France.
Depicted in the artwork is a female figure reclining languidly, partially draped with richly colored fabrics that contrast her bare skin. Her pose is relaxed and sensual, a typical characteristic of the odalisque form in art, which was popular among European artists as a way to explore themes of exoticism and sensuality. Delacroix’s use of vivid colors and fluid brushstrokes imbues the scene with a sense of warmth and immediacy, capturing the luxurious and intimate environment. The woman is accompanied by a parakeet, adding a touch of liveliness and exotic flair to the composition. The painting showcases Delacroix’s mastery in rendering the human form, as well as his ability to convey the textures of fabric and the softness of flesh through his adept use of oil paint.