Winter Juno And Aeolus 1862

Eugène Delacroix captured Winter Juno and Aeolus on canvas using oil paints, a medium that lends itself to the dramatic and emotional intensity he was known for. The loose brushwork, characteristic of Delacroix’s style, adds a sense of dynamism to the scene. Notice how the fluidity of the paint mimics the chaotic energy of the wind and sea, almost as if the paint itself is participating in the tempest. This direct engagement with the material—applying it with visible strokes and allowing it to blend on the canvas—was revolutionary. Delacroix challenges traditional notions of finish and precision, valuing instead the expressive potential of his medium. In doing so, he elevates the act of painting to a performance, where the artist's hand and the properties of the material are as significant as the subject matter itself. By focusing on the materiality and method of its creation, we can appreciate how it reflects a shift in artistic values, towards emphasizing process, and how the handling of material could communicate as powerfully as the narrative.