Women of Algiers in Their Apartment is Eugene Delacroix first artwork resulting from his time in Morocco and is based on Delacroix's visit to a Muslim Harem. Muslim harems were heavily guarded and so it was difficult to enter one. Delacroix was fortunate enough to meet a man who owned a private harem and so he was allowed to enter and stay for some time and was even given permission to painted several watercolor sketches.

The main activity in this image takes place at the lower center and the left-hand corner; attention shifts from each woman like a ping pong ball, starting with the woman directly in the center, then to the woman on the left, back to the center to the woman in the white shirt and finally to the servant girl. The positioning of the figures combined with the lighting keeps the eye moving.

There are many textures in this harem scene. The technique of Delacroix's color and brushstroke ranges from smooth to rough, dull to shiny. The dull carpets, tiles and cushions make the shining mirrors, silk; jewels and glass shimmer even more fantastically. Like most of his other works, the majority of this canvas is painted with dark colors. Delacroix chose such a palette to make his bright colors and the direction of his lighting stand out even more. The overlapping of colors, bright and dark, mix to create a refined but vibrant canvas and this was the artist's most sumptuous use of color to date. The lighting in this piece alters the colors and shapes of the scene. Delacroix bathes the women in a sensuous light, creating a calming effect. The lighting truly dominates the piece and gives it the character that makes it so memorable.

Why not grace your home with this reproduced masterpiece? It is sure to bring many admirers!