“The Moroccan and his Horse,” created by Eugene Delacroix in 1857, is a notable work emblematic of the Romanticism art movement. The artwork’s dimensions are 50 x 61.5 cm, and it is categorized as genre painting, reflecting a moment or scene in everyday life. This piece by Delacroix is presently housed at the Budapest Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest, Hungary.
The artwork portrays a vibrant scene full of movement under a dynamic, clouded sky, which is characteristic of Romanticism’s emphasis on emotion and nature’s grandeur. In the foreground, a Moroccan man stands beside his horse, which appears to be in a state of agitation or discomfort, evocative of the untamed force found often in Delacroix’s paintings. The use of rich and contrasting colors highlights the drama of the scene. On the ground, discarded or fallen objects, possibly the man’s belongings, add to the narrative of an unexpected incident or rest during a journey.
The man, dressed in traditional clothing with a turban and a red cloak, grasps the reins, suggesting an effort to control or console the horse. Meanwhile, a dog, lying down with its head turned upwards, looks attentively towards the man and horse, possibly indicating concern or curiosity. In the background, additional riders can be seen, adding depth to the composition and implying a broader narrative context. Delacroix’s brushwork imbues the scene with energy and texture, effectively conveying both the horse’s raw power and the atmospheric tension of the surrounding landscape.