The artwork “Girl with Chrysanthemums” by Odilon Redon dates from circa 1905. This pastel on paper exemplifies the Symbolist movement, emphasizing emotional resonance and esoteric themes rather than representational accuracy. The genre painting measures 66.6 x 53.8 cm and presently resides within a private collection, abiding by the preferences of Symbolist artists to convey personal, mythical, or dream-like narratives.
In the artwork, a soft, ethereal quality pervades the scene, which is characteristic of Redon’s oeuvre — blending the observable world with the dominion of imagination. The composition features a depiction of a girl in profile, her form rendered in muted tones and subtle shading that suggest introspection or melancholy. The chrysanthemums are vividly detailed, imbuing the scene with life through their brighter coloration and textural contrast against the abstracted background. The background itself is awash with hazy blues and greens, giving an impression of an undefined space that seems to exist beyond the tangible setting. Redon’s masterful use of pastels creates a dream-like atmosphere that invites viewers to explore the intrinsic symbolism found within the pairing of the figure and the flowers.
