Odilon Redon – Artwork & Bio of the French Painter

Odilon Redon was a French painter born on April 20, 1840, in Bordeaux, France. He first studied under Stanislas Gorin, who introduced Redon to the works of Romantic artists. In 1864, Redon enrolled in the studio of Jean-Leon Gerome. A year later, unsatisfied with Gerome’s firm methods, Redon moved to Bordeaux, where he became Rodolphe Bresdin’s mentee. Later, he learned lithography Henri Fantin-Latour, making it an income source during the 1870s.

After experimenting with several mediums and techniques from the 1870s to 1880s, Redon started working primarily with pastels in 1890, employing a much brighter palette than before. Redon spent his last decade painting commissioned portraits, still lifes, and decorative artworks. In 1903, the French government awarded Redon with the Legion of Honor. He died on July 6, 1916, in Paris, France.

What was Odilon Redon Known For?

Odilon Redon was known for his noir paintings, lithographs, portraits, and mythological scenes. Redon was first renowned for his noirs, a series of artworks he created purely in black due to his experiences in the Franco-Prussian war. During this period, he also made many lithographs. It wasn’t until the 1890s that Redon introduced colors to their paintings again. During his career, Redon emphasized subjectivity in his works.

Who was Odion Redon Influenced By?

Odion Redon was influenced by Eugene Delacroix, Francisco Goya, Rodolphe Bresdin, and Henri Fantin-Latour. Redon copied the works of Delacroix and Goya while in the atelier of Stanislas Gorin. Subsequently, Bresdin mentored him in making etchings and engravings. Fantin-Latour influenced Redon’s lithographs of the 1870s.

What Art Movement was Odion Redon Associated With?

Odion Redon was associated with the Symbolism art movement. Redon transitioned from his earlier techniques of representing the effects of light to focus on subjectivity and deeper meanings in his artwork.

Odion Redon Artwork

Below are some of the artworks of Odion Redon

Buddha Walking among the Flowers

 

Cactus Man

 

Christ in Silence

 

Christ

 

Closed Eyes

 

Evocation of Butterflies

 

Eye Balloon

 

Flower Clouds

 

Muse on Pegasus

 

Mystical Conversation

 

Sacred Heart

 

The Crown

 

The Crying Spider

 

The Cyclops

 

The Druidess

 

The Golden Cell

 

The Green Horseman

 

The Smiling Spider

 

Vision

All Odilon Redon Artwork on Artchive

Artwork Name Year Medium
Ophelia c.1903 Pastel on Paper
Deux jeunes filles en fleurs (Two Young Girls Among Flowers) c. 1905-12 Oil on Canvas
Red Boat with Blue Sail 1906-07 Oil on Canvas
Eye-Balloon 1878 Charcoal
Guardian Spirit of the Waters 1878 Charcoal
La Barque Mystique c. 1890-95 Pastel on wove paper
La coquille (The Seashell) 1912 Pastel on paper
Le Bouddha (The Buddha) c. 1905 Pastel on paper
Les yeux clos (Closed Eyes) c.1890 Lithograph,paper
Panel c.1902
Saint John 1892 Pastel on Paper
Profile and Flowers 1912 Pastel on Paper
Beatrice 1885 Pastel on Paper
Cactus Man 1882 charcoal,paper
Flower Clouds 1903 Pastel on Paper
Flowers c.1903 Oil on Canvas
Mystery c. 1910 Oil on Canvas
Parsifal c.1912 Pastel on Paper
The Crying Spider 1881 Charcoal
The Cyclops c.1898 - c.1900 Oil on Canvas
The Golden Cell 1892 Oil and gold metallic paint on paper prepared with white ground
The Red Sphinx c. 1912 Pastel on Paper
The Smiling Spider 1887 Charcoal
Woman with a Yellow Bodice c.1899 Pastel on Paper
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