Two Women at the Well 1832

Eugène Delacroix made this drawing with pen and brown ink and watercolor wash. It depicts two women at a well. The image offers a glimpse into the West's fascination with the "Orient" during the 19th century. Delacroix himself visited North Africa in 1832, and this encounter profoundly influenced his artistic vision. The image reflects France's growing colonial presence in North Africa. Artists like Delacroix depicted the region as exotic and timeless. But these depictions also served to legitimize colonial domination, portraying the colonized as passive and unchanging. The veiled women and the architecture evoke a sense of mystery and distance. To understand this drawing fully, we need to explore archival sources, travelogues, and the history of French Orientalism. These help reveal the complex power dynamics that shaped the artist's vision.