The artwork titled “Portrait of Jeanne Chaine” was created by the artist Odilon Redon in the year 1903. This portrait is executed using pastel on paper and is a representation of the Symbolist art movement. The dimensions of the piece are 79.5 cm by 69 cm. It falls within the genre of portraiture and currently resides at the Kunstmuseum Basel, located in Basel, Switzerland.
The artwork showcases a figure presumably seated, with a somewhat introspective or detached gaze. The subject, Jeanne Chaine, appears in a high-necked garment adorned with soft, floral hues that contrast sharply with the deep blue of her dress. The choice of colors and the light, sketch-like strokes create a delicate and ethereal quality. Redon’s use of pastel allows for a luminous effect, particularly noticeable in the vibrant background that seems to be a flowering garden, perhaps symbolizing the inner world of the subject or the flourishing of her persona under the artist’s perception.
The background blends a multitude of colors including blues, yellows, and greens, with dabs of white that suggest light cascading through foliage. Redon’s symbolic interpretation in this portrait renders a sense of quiet introspection and emotional depth, invoking the viewer to consider the unseen aspects of Jeanne Chaine’s character. The Symbolist movement, to which Redon contributed significantly, often sought to express the ideas of the unconscious mind and the symbolic representation of emotions and ideas, which is subtly reflected in the ambiance of this portrait.
