The Destroyed Room (photograph)

The photograph was entirely created in a set and depicts a room with several damaged items, while the walls also show signs of destruction.

[2][3] The photograph, like others of the artist, was inspired by a classical work of art, the painting The Death of Sardanapalus (1827) by French Romantic painter Eugène Delacroix.

Unlike the original work, there is no direct human presence, violence, cruelty or sexuality, despite the fact that it all can be inferred from the image.

[4] According to Josephine Van De Valle: "It is most of all Delacroix's composition that Jeff Wall echoes: in both works a diagonal line from upper left to bottom right creates a balance and rhythm.

And like Delacroix, Wall too chose for a prominent red color palette, suggesting passion and supporting the chaos in the scene.