Sometimes I feel like this. I can relate to this girl- alone, sad, wondering what her purpose in life is. At least, that is the message I feel when I look at the painting. Eugene Delacroix was a French painter who was not afraid of dark emotions- in many of his paintings there is turmoil, angst, drama, anger, or sadness. Sometimes a single painting has all of those vibes. He was a Romantic painter, paying great attention to expressing passion in his art.
This painting is called “Orphan Girl at the Cemetery” and it is oil on canvas. The way he composed the piece draws your attention to the portrait of the girl, who looks dazed and alone. You can barely see a tear forming in her eye that is closest to the viewer. After some time I realized that the background is actually littered with several gravestones that show it is a cemetery. The colors are solemn, much like the girl. It just feels grey. It is a subtle passion, or a painter who was passionate about painting the lack of passion the girl had.
The moment where you feel numb and empty- searching. I think Delacroix captured that moment very well.
Are we searching?
