The artwork titled “Head of a Sleeping Woman” was created by the artist Odilon Redon around the year 1905. This piece is an oil painting on canvas, measuring 49.53 x 49.53 cm. As a work associated with the Symbolist movement, the painting explores thematic elements beyond the visible, seeking to represent ideas and evoke emotions. Regarded as a genre painting, it is currently housed in a private collection.
The artwork depicts the serene and contemplative image of a woman’s head in a state of repose, suggesting the theme of sleep or perhaps an introspective moment. The composition focuses intimately on the subject’s face, eschewing intricate background details in favor of a concentration on the figure itself. Redon’s use of muted and ethereal color splashes reflects the Symbolist preoccupation with portraying inner experiences and the intangible facets of the human psyche. The brushwork is loose and gestural, creating a dreamlike aura that complements the tranquility of the subject. The face emerges softly from the surrounding brushstrokes, with Redon’s hallmark blending of realism and abstraction, inviting the viewer to contemplate the unseen and the philosophical.
