A Young Black Woman Fetching Water

In 1832, the French Romantic artist Eugène Delacroix was invited to accompany the Count de Mornay, ambassador to the Sultan of Morocco, on a journey to Spain, Morocco, and Algeria. While there, he created this watercolor depicting a young woman—likely an enslaved African—as she engaged in domestic work. The drawing was one of 18 that Delacroix included in an album given to the count as a souvenir of their travels.

A watercolor and graphite drawing depicts a young Black woman standing centrally, her body facing us with slightly upturned lips and bare feet. She has medium-dark skin and wears a long yellow robe, blue skirt, and white headwrap. A white cloth drapes over her left arm. To our left, a terracotta jug rests on the ground. Behind her, a figure in white walks away past a tall, textured stone wall.

A Young Black Woman Fetching Water

1832

Eugène Delacroix

(French, 1798–1863)

France

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