“The Fisherwoman” is a genre painting created by the artist Odilon Redon in 1900. This artwork was executed using the medium of pastel on paper and is representative of the Symbolism art movement. The painting belongs to a private collection and embodies specific characteristics attributed to the genre painting category, which typically depicts scenes of everyday life.
The artwork portrays a solitary figure, a fisherwoman, standing on the shore next to a boat. She holds a staff firmly with both hands, which could be an anchor pole used to steady the boat or possibly connected to her fishing activities. She is depicted wearing a flowing gown that cascades down in deep blue tones, harmonizing with the marine setting around her.
In the artwork, the use of vibrant colors and the focus on light and shadow work together to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The seascapes and skies often found in Redon’s works are present here, conjuring a scene that is both serene and contemplative. The fisherwoman’s gaze is directed downward, suggesting a moment of introspection or a pause in her labor. The overall composition is suffused with the symbolic and dreamlike quality that Redon is known for, inviting the viewer to delve beyond the immediate visual narrative and explore the deeper, often emotional or spiritual, themes embedded in the scene.
