Odilon Redon was a French symbolist painter, printmaker, and draughtsman who was born on April 20, 1840, in Bordeaux, France. He is known for his mysterious and dreamlike works that often feature fantastical creatures and ethereal landscapes. Redon's early work was influenced by the realism of artists like Gustave Courbet, but he later became associated with the symbolist movement and is now considered one of its leading figures. His use of rich color and symbolic imagery has had a lasting impact on the art world, and he is remembered as one of the most important artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Redon passed away on July 6, 1916, in Paris, France.
1. Ophelia
- Artwork Name: Ophelia
- Year: c.1903
- Medium: Pastel on Paper
- Dimensions: 19.5 x 26.19 cm
"Ophelia," created by Odilon Redon circa 1903, is a pastel on paper artwork measuring 19.5 x 26.19 cm, and is part of the Symbolism art movement. Currently residing in a private collection, this literary painting evokes the tragic demise of Shakespeare’s Ophelia. The artwork depicts a serene, dreamy scene with Ophelia's floating presence enveloped by vibrant, ethereal flora with rich blue and yellow hues, capturing a melancholic tranquility that reflects the Symbolist fascination with emotion and the subconscious.
2. Deux jeunes filles en fleurs (Two Young Girls Among Flowers)
- Artwork Name: Deux jeunes filles en fleurs (Two Young Girls Among Flowers)
- Year: c. 1905-12
- Medium: Oil on Canvas
- Dimensions: 24 1/2 x 20 1/4 in.
The artwork, titled "Deux jeunes filles en fleurs (Two Young Girls Among Flowers)" and created by Odilon Redon around 1905-1912, is an enchanting oil on canvas measuring 24 1/2 by 20 1/4 inches. Currently housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas, the painting depicts two young girls surrounded by a vivid floral composition. The use of luminous colors and delicate brushwork imbues the scene with a dreamlike quality, capturing the ethereal beauty and innocence of youth set against the backdrop of nature's splendor.
3. Red Boat with Blue Sail
- Artwork Name: Red Boat with Blue Sail
- Year: 1906-07
- Medium: Oil on Canvas
- Dimensions: 54 x 73 cm
The artwork, titled "Red Boat with Blue Sail," is a distinguished piece created by Odilon Redon during the period of 1906-07. This oil on canvas measures 54 by 73 centimeters and is held within a private collection. The painting depicts a vivid red boat with a prominent blue sail, set against a tranquil, atmospheric seascape. The composition features a harmonious blend of colors and a serene setting, reflecting Redon's unique artistic vision.
4. Eye-Balloon
- Artwork Name: Eye-Balloon
- Year: 1878
- Medium: Charcoal
- Dimensions: 42.2 x 33.2 cm
"Eye-Balloon," created by Odilon Redon in 1878, is a charcoal artwork currently housed at The Museum of Modern Art in New York. Measuring 42.2 x 33.2 cm, the artwork depicts a large, central eye morphing into the shape of a hot air balloon, suspended in the sky above a shadowy landscape. This piece exemplifies Redon's surreal and imaginative style, merging dreamlike elements with a monochromatic palette to evoke a sense of mystery.
5. Guardian Spirit of the Waters
- Artwork Name: Guardian Spirit of the Waters
- Year: 1878
- Medium: Charcoal
- Dimensions: 46.6 x 37.6 cm
"Guardian Spirit of the Waters," a charcoal drawing by Odilon Redon created in 1878, is a symbolic painting emblematic of the Symbolism art movement. The artwork, measuring 46.6 by 37.6 centimeters, is currently housed at The Art Institute of Chicago. The composition presents a serene seascape, over which looms a large, ethereal face, symbolically representing a spiritual guardian. This mysterious and dreamlike image conveys a sense of the mystical and the unseen, characteristic of Redon's exploration of the fantastical and the inner world.
6. La Barque Mystique
- Artwork Name: La Barque Mystique
- Year: c. 1890-95
- Medium: Pastel on wove paper
- Dimensions: 51 x 63.5 cm (20 1/16 x 25 in.)
"La Barque Mystique" by Odilon Redon, created circa 1890-95, is a pastel on wove paper artwork that measures 51 x 63.5 cm (20 1/16 x 25 inches). The artwork, currently part of The Woodner Collection in New York, features a mystical scene of a solitary blue boat with a prominent golden-yellow sail navigating through a tumultuous sea under a dynamic sky. The color palette and composition of the artwork evoke a sense of mystery and ethereal beauty, characteristic of Redon's visionary style.
7. La coquille (The Seashell)
- Artwork Name: La coquille (The Seashell)
- Year: 1912
- Medium: Pastel on paper
- Dimensions: 20 1/2 x 22 3/4 in. (51 x 57.8 cm)
The artwork titled "La coquille (The Seashell)" was created by Odilon Redon in 1912, utilizing pastel on paper as its medium. Measuring 20 1/2 by 22 3/4 inches (51 by 57.8 cm), the piece is housed at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. The artwork depicts a seashell, rendered with soft, delicate strokes that emphasize its intricate form and subtle coloring, set against a warm, earthy background, exemplifying Redon's mastery of atmosphere and texture.
8. Le Bouddha (The Buddha)
- Artwork Name: Le Bouddha (The Buddha)
- Year: c. 1905
- Medium: Pastel on paper
- Dimensions: 35 1/2 x 28 3/4 in. (98 x 73 cm)
"Le Bouddha (The Buddha)" is a pastel on paper artwork created around 1905 by Odilon Redon. The piece measures 35 1/2 by 28 3/4 inches (98 by 73 cm) and is housed in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. The artwork presents a serene and contemplative depiction of the Buddha, standing in a richly colored, mystical environment. The scene is dominated by vibrant hues and intricate textures, with a prominent figure of the Buddha wrapped in a multicolored robe. A bare tree and abstract celestial elements in the background contribute to the spiritual and otherworldly ambiance of the piece.
9. Les yeux clos (Closed Eyes)
- Artwork Name: Les yeux clos (Closed Eyes)
- Year: c.1890
- Medium: Lithograph,paper
- Dimensions: 55.9 x 40.6 cm
The artwork "Les yeux clos (Closed Eyes)" is a lithograph on paper created by Odilon Redon circa 1890, representing the Symbolism art movement. Measuring 55.9 x 40.6 cm, this piece, which falls under the genre of sketch and study, depicts a serene figure with closed eyes, exuding a meditative tranquility. Executed with delicate lines and subtle shading, the artwork conveys a sense of introspection and calm. Currently, it is housed in the Brooklyn Museum in New York City, NY, USA.
10. Panel
- Artwork Name: Panel
- Year: c.1902
- Dimensions: 225 x 185 cm
The artwork, titled "Panel" created by Odilon Redon circa 1902, is a distinguished piece of the Symbolism movement. Displayed in the Rijksmuseum Twenthe in Enschede, The Netherlands, it measures 225 by 185 centimeters and exemplifies the genre of design. The artwork features an ethereal arrangement of floral patterns, executed in a delicate and almost dreamlike ambiance that characterizes Redon's symbolic and evocative style, inviting viewers into a serene and introspective visual experience.
11. Saint John
- Artwork Name: Saint John
- Year: 1892
- Medium: Pastel on Paper
- Dimensions: 42.5 x 29 cm
The artwork, titled "Saint John," is a pastel on paper created by Odilon Redon in 1892. It belongs to the Symbolism art movement and measures 42.5 x 29 cm. Classified as a religious painting, the artwork depicts the figure of Saint John in a somber, contemplative pose. The use of vivid and contrasting colors, such as deep blues and warm oranges, imbues the piece with an ethereal and introspective atmosphere, enhancing its symbolic depth. This piece is currently housed in a private collection.
12. Profile and Flowers
- Artwork Name: Profile and Flowers
- Year: 1912
- Medium: Pastel on Paper
- Dimensions: 27 5/8 x 21 3/4 in. (70.2 x 55.2 cm)
"Profile and Flowers," created by Odilon Redon in 1912, is a pastel on paper artwork that embodies the Symbolism art movement. This portrait, measuring 27 5/8 x 21 3/4 inches (70.2 x 55.2 cm), is housed at the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas, USA. The artwork illustrates a serene profile of a woman adorned with a delicate head covering, juxtaposed against a vibrant arrangement of flowers. The ethereal quality of the pastel medium enhances the dreamlike atmosphere, characteristic of Redon's symbolic and introspective artistic approach.
13. Beatrice
- Artwork Name: Beatrice
- Year: 1885
- Medium: Pastel on Paper
- Dimensions: 34.5 x 30 cm
The artwork "Beatrice" by Odilon Redon, created in 1885, is a pastel on paper piece measuring 34.5 by 30 cm, belonging to the Symbolism art movement. This portrait, held in a private collection, depicts a serene female figure with a golden-hued complexion, inclining her head in a contemplative manner. She is adorned with an ethereal wreath, set against a vibrant background imbued with shades of blue and pink, invoking a dreamlike and introspective atmosphere characteristic of Symbolist aesthetics. The artwork's delicate use of pastel enhances its soft, luminous quality, capturing a sense of mystical reverie.
14. Cactus Man
- Artwork Name: Cactus Man
- Year: 1882
- Medium: charcoal,paper
- Dimensions: 46.5 x 31.5 cm
The artwork, "Cactus Man," created in 1882 by Odilon Redon, is a symbolic painting executed in charcoal on paper measuring 46.5 by 31.5 cm. As part of the Symbolism movement, this piece is currently housed in The Woodner Family Collection in New York. The artwork features a surreal and evocative image, depicting a head with cactus-like spikes, emerging from a rectangular base. The rendering of the head is imbued with an ethereal and somber expression, characteristic of Redon's explorations into the mystical and the otherworldly.
15. Flower Clouds
- Artwork Name: Flower Clouds
- Year: 1903
- Medium: Pastel on Paper
- Dimensions: 44.5 x 54.2 cm
"Flower Clouds," created by Odilon Redon in 1903, is a pastel on paper artwork emblematic of the Symbolism art movement. The artwork, measuring 44.5 by 54.2 centimeters, is housed in the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. Depicting a mesmerizing cloudscape genre, the piece showcases a vibrant interplay of colors and ethereal forms, with a sailboat gently making its way through an evocatively illuminated sky, filled with otherworldly and dream-like hues that blend seamlessly, conjuring a sense of tranquil mystique and ethereal beauty.
16. Flowers
- Artwork Name: Flowers
- Year: c.1903
- Medium: Oil on Canvas
- Dimensions: 66 x 54.5 cm
The artwork, titled "Flowers" by Odilon Redon, created circa 1903, is an oil on canvas painting. Measuring 66 by 54.5 centimeters, the piece belongs to the Symbolism art movement and falls under the genre of flower paintings. It is currently housed in the Kunstmuseum St. Gallen in Switzerland. The artwork exudes a dreamlike quality, with vibrant, abstractly depicted flowers emerging from a shadowy vase, characteristic of Redon's distinctive style in exploring the boundaries between reality and imagination.
17. Mystery
- Artwork Name: Mystery
- Year: c. 1910
- Medium: Oil on Canvas
- Dimensions: 73 x 53.9 cm (28 3/4 x 21 1/4 in.)
"Mystery," created circa 1910 by the artist Odilon Redon, is an oil on canvas belonging to the Symbolism art movement. The artwork measures 73 x 53.9 cm (28 3/4 x 21 1/4 in.) and exemplifies the genre of symbolic painting. The piece portrays an ethereal and enigmatic figure enveloped in soft, dreamlike hues. The figure, seemingly deeply contemplative, is surrounded by a luxuriant bouquet of multicolored flowers. The soft blending of colors and ambiguous forms evoke a sense of mystery and spiritual introspection, characteristic of Redon's symbolic approach.
18. Parsifal
- Artwork Name: Parsifal
- Year: c.1912
- Medium: Pastel on Paper
- Dimensions: 64 x 49 cm
"Parsifal," created by the Symbolist artist Odilon Redon around 1912, is a pastel on paper artwork measuring 64 x 49 cm. Currently housed in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, this literary painting delves into the realms of emotion and mysticism, typical of the Symbolist movement. The artwork portrays a somber and introspective figure enveloped in dark, ethereal hues, set against a backdrop of nebulous forms and muted tones. Its evocative use of light and shadow captures the contemplative essence of the mythic figure Parsifal, conveying a sense of introspection and spiritual quest.
19. The Crying Spider
- Artwork Name: The Crying Spider
- Year: 1881
- Medium: Charcoal
- Dimensions: 49.5 x 37.5 cm
"The Crying Spider," created by Odilon Redon in 1881, is a symbolic painting rendered in charcoal, measuring 49.5 x 37.5 cm. Characteristic of the Symbolism art movement, the artwork depicts a human-faced spider exuding an aura of melancholia and desolation. The piece, held in a private collection in the Netherlands, portrays delicate yet haunting imagery where the central figure, marked by human-like sorrow, seamlessly merges with the spider, invoking a profound sense of surrealism and introspection. Redon's mastery of charcoal brings depth to the artwork, enhancing its emotional resonance and symbolic depth.
20. The Cyclops
- Artwork Name: The Cyclops
- Year: c.1898 - c.1900
- Medium: Oil on Canvas
- Dimensions: 51 x 64 cm
The artwork, titled "The Cyclops," is an oil on canvas painting created by Odilon Redon between circa 1898 and 1900. Representing the Symbolism art movement and measuring 51 x 64 cm, it is categorized as a mythological painting. Currently housed in the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands, the artwork depicts a mythical scene with a solitary Cyclops emerging from a fantastical, textured landscape, watching over a reclining nude figure. The ethereal, dreamlike quality of the brushstrokes and color palette enhances the mysterious and symbolic nature of the mythological subject matter.
21. The Golden Cell
- Artwork Name: The Golden Cell
- Year: 1892
- Medium: Oil and gold metallic paint on paper prepared with white ground
- Dimensions: 30.1 x 24.7 cm
"The Golden Cell," an artwork by Odilon Redon created in 1892, exemplifies the Symbolism art movement. Executed in oil and gold metallic paint on paper prepared with a white ground, the portrait measures 30.1 by 24.7 centimeters and is housed in the British Museum in London, UK. The artwork features a contemplative blue profile set against a rich golden background, which evokes a sense of mysticism and introspection characteristic of Symbolist themes and aesthetic.
22. The Red Sphinx
- Artwork Name: The Red Sphinx
- Year: c. 1912
- Medium: Pastel on Paper
- Dimensions: 61 x 49.5 cm
"The Red Sphinx," created by Odilon Redon around 1912, is a pastel on paper artwork belonging to the Symbolism movement. It measures 61 x 49.5 cm and is part of a private collection. This symbolic painting captures a dreamlike composition rich in vibrant hues and abstract forms. Dominated by a striking red figure possibly representing the sphinx, the artwork is set against an intense, textured backdrop that blends deep blues and luminous yellows. The scene exudes an ethereal quality, drawing the viewer into its enigmatic atmosphere reflective of Redon's symbolic and emotional artistic exploration.
23. The Smiling Spider
- Artwork Name: The Smiling Spider
- Year: 1887
- Medium: Charcoal
- Dimensions: 49.5 x 39 cm
The artwork, "The Smiling Spider," created in 1887 by Odilon Redon, exemplifies the Symbolism movement. Rendered in charcoal, this symbolic painting measures 49.5 x 39 cm and is housed in the Musée du Louvre, Paris. The charcoal medium imbues the piece with a haunting, ethereal quality, befitting its symbolic genre. The composition is dominated by an expressive, almost surreal depiction of a spider with a distinct, unsettling smirk, set against a backdrop that subtly suggests an interior space, invoking a blend of curiosity and disquiet in the observer.
24. Woman with a Yellow Bodice
- Artwork Name: Woman with a Yellow Bodice
- Year: c.1899
- Medium: Pastel on Paper
- Dimensions: 66 x 50 cm
The artwork "Woman with a Yellow Bodice" by Odilon Redon, created circa 1899, is a pastel on paper piece measuring 66 by 50 centimeters. This portrait, embodying the Symbolism movement, is housed in the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands. The artwork depicts a woman adorned in a striking yellow bodice, with delicate blue flowers in her hair, set against a softly blurred background that enhances the ethereal and introspective quality typical of Redon's symbolic renderings.