Even though Eugene Delacroix is one of the most renowned painters in the world of art history, Medea (Louvre) would not be considered his best work by most people. However, I am in love with the painting. It might sound twisted, but one of the main reasons why I love this painting is because of its extremely messed up back story.

The women in the painting is Medea, who madly fell in love with a guy named Jason. And by mad, I mean pretty insane. Her father did not approve of their love and therefore decided to chase after the run-away couple using his ship. To slow slow down her father, Medea dismembered her brother and threw his body parts on an island knowing that her father would stop to pick up his son's pieces to give him a proper burial. Now, do you mean what I mean by crazy?

But hold on, there's more.

After getting rid of the father, Medea and Jason ran to an island, but shortly after their arrival, Jason became engaged to the princess of the island. Abandoning the girl who just killed her brother to be with you? Not the best idea Jason, not the best idea. Medea, filled with jealousy and hatred, gave the princess a crown and a gown as "wedding presents," but here's the twist, they were poisoned. The new princess died. To complete her ultimate revenge, Medea killed Jason's twins (also her own) right in front of him. Crazy.

Many of Delacroix's paintings appear chaotic and heroic. Medea (Louvre) at first glance does not seem so chaotic for the fact that there's only three people drawn on the canvas, but that I find interesting is the picture outside of it. I imagine Jason chasing Medea down with an army of troops thinking it was the last of her -- only to witness the brutal death of his own sons. The beauties behind tragic and chaos are unspeakable. Medea (Louvre) depicted a powerful scene of a mother killing her own sons, but at the same time you can also feel her despair, her anger, and her agony as a murderer and a victim of love.