The Smoker by Eugène Delacroix

The irresistible attraction to the East and the quiet dignity of its inhabitants shine through the superb intimate portrait named “The Smoker” by Eugène Delacroix. This study of manners witnesses the aesthetic shock felt by the painter during his confrontation with the North African light. The creator immortalizes his model in an attitude of noble rest, far from any theatrical agitation of Parisian salons.

An oriental man with a dark complexion is seated in profile, comfortably installed on a green sofa furnished with white cushions. He wears a bright red vest embroidered on his chest, a half-open shirt, and wide trousers of an intense oriental blue. His head is girt with a large, meticulously wrapped orange and red turban, and his mustachioed face displays a serene and pensive expression. With his right hand, he delicately holds the long wooden stem of a traditional pipe whose bowl rests on the floor. A heavy crimson curtain hanging in the right background plunges the rest of the decor into a soft and cozy twilight.

Delacroix demonstrates exceptional talent as a colorist by making the red and blue vibrate within this intimate atmosphere. His perfect mastery of oil painting and the realistic rendering of textile materials celebrate the excellence of his craftsmanship.