The artwork entitled “Closed Eyes,” created circa 1894 by artist Odilon Redon, is a portrait executed in oil on panel. It is an exemplar of the Symbolism art movement and remains housed in a private collection. Redon’s work during this period often delved into the realm of fantasy and the expression of ideas rather than the literal representation of the world.
In “Closed Eyes,” the artwork features a visage in repose with eyelids gently closed, conveying an aura of introspection or meditation. The figure has a serene and enigmatic presence, framed by softly blended colors and diffuse lighting that are characteristic of Redon’s later works, where he abandoned the monochromatic palette of his earlier charcoal “noirs” for more luminous colored oil paintings.
The subject’s complexion is tinged with a muted blue, setting a dreamlike tone, while the hair and background suggest a warm yet subdued chromatic environment. The composition is devoid of complex detail, focusing instead on the atmospheric and emotive qualities achieved through color and form, traits that define the Symbolist movement’s aim to capture the unseen and the spiritual. Redon’s mastery of nuance in “Closed Eyes” elevates the portrait beyond a mere depiction of a figure, inviting contemplation on the unseen realms of the psyche and the imagination.
