The artwork “Animals of the Bottom of the Sea” by Odilon Redon showcases his unique approach within the Symbolism movement. Crafted with pastel on paper, this piece belongs to the animal painting genre and reflects Redon’s fascination with the dreamlike aspects of the natural world. As a manifestation of Symbolist values, the artwork intertwines reality and imagination, inviting viewers to explore the depths of both the ocean and the subconscious.
The pastel composition presents an ethereal underwater scene, where the distinction between the real and the fantastic is blurred. The artwork features an array of sea creatures, each rendered with a fantastical twist that defies straightforward biological classification. A central fish-like creature dominates the scene, imbued with rich, intense reds and goldens that draw the eye. Its scales seem to shimmer with a life of their own, fusing naturalistic detail with an almost otherworldly aura.
Adjacent to this piscine subject are other denizens of this marine tableau. The viewer’s gaze might next fall upon a creature with prominent, circular eyes and tentacle-like appendages that float ambiguously in the aquatic space. This being possesses a curious visage, staring outward with an enigmatic expression that suggests the encoding of deeper symbolic meaning, characteristic of Redon’s work.
The backdrop is suggestive of the ocean’s floor but is drenched in a mysterious glow that bathes the entire scene in an otherworldly light. There’s an intentional softness to the shapes and forms, indicative of Redon’s skill in using pastels to create a dream-like, almost unfocused quality, which is superbly suited to the Symbolist aim of evoking mood and emotion over realistic depiction.
The texture achieved through the pastel medium enhances the subtle gradations of color and imbues the artwork with a tactile quality. Colors transition smoothly from one to another, creating a cohesive and mesmerizing underwater landscape that seems both tranquil and alive with the unseen currents of mystical interpretation. The choice of pastels on paper allows a softness and richness in hue that typical paint might not achieve, lending itself to the creation of this captivating, enigmatic marine world. Through “Animals of the Bottom of the Sea,” Redon invites viewers to transcend the mundane and plunge into an aquatic reverie, a place where the boundaries of fantasy and reality dissolve into the sublime.
