The Journal of Eugene Delacroix

Posted by Suzanne Hill Jul 5, 2007

Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863), a superb French Romantic painter, created a personal diary which today is one of the most important documents in art history and criticism and gives readers a very complete look at an artist’s everyday life.

Delacroix kept daily notes in his notebooks and on scraps of paper to record his inner thoughts and his critiques of earlier painters like Michelangelo and Rubens. He discussed his own artistic work, his daily life, his sorrows, hopes, and insights. He kept track of his ailments, the pigments and supplies he bought, the amount of money he paid models, as well as dinner parties, concerts, and day trips he took part in.

In the Journal’s last entry, Delacroix wrote, "The eyes of many people are dull or false…They see objects literally, and of the exquisite they see nothing."

His entry for July 20, 1824 reads, “Took time and made many sketches; in this, especially, I need to improve. On this account, I must get some fine Poussin engravings and study them. The great point is to avoid that confounded facility given us by the brush. Take, rather, some hard material to work in, such as marble; that would be quite new. Work in an obstinate medium in order to subdue it patiently.”

Here he states what every artist instinctively knows: it’s always a good idea to stretch your boundaries and experiment with new media and techniques. Play with an entirely new art form. Chances are you’ll feel fresh and revitalized. Allowing time to experiment or to play avoids feelings of stagnation.