Delacroix

Delacroix. The breaker of the neo-classicism. The house where he was born. He lost himself in exotic themes of sultans, slaves, and passion. The Red lives in his paintings like a character of its own. Bright Red against the balance of tones of Napoleonic perfection.

Even in his least known works, the Red permeates the canvas sometimes becoming the main object of adoration. the Red makes the saddle heavier and important. It balances the scene by a subtle counter weight to the movement when establishing the ground where the sword rests. He doesn't spend time over defining the figures even when living under the influence and among the greatest classical painters. The scene hasn't ended compared to Napoleon portraits which are applauded and loved, but they also carry the confining task of capturing the instance of the climax of glory.


Not overly known by popular culture, but here is the precursor of the next 100 years. Impressionism surged on his rush stroke and from his diminished attention to the content in contrast to the emphasis on mastery to deliver a simpler message. The changing of the topic from the subject to the whole. His irreverent escape from classicism inspired others to inmerse themselves in other subjects. This is the touch of a genius, an unrecognized game changer of his time.