The artwork entitled “Woman with Pillar of Flowers” is a creation of the artist Odilon Redon, dating back to 1903. Executed in pastel on paper, the piece measures 58.42 by 48.26 centimeters and is categorized as a portrait. This artwork is informed by the Symbolist movement, which was known for its emphasis on emotions, ideas, and metaphysical concepts. Currently, the artwork resides within a private collection.
In this depiction, the audience is presented with a portrait of a woman seemingly in profile, her countenance showing a thoughtful or contemplative expression. The color palette is rich with a vibrant yet soft blend of blues, yellows, and pinks that give a dreamlike quality to the piece. Textural elements created with the pastel medium give a sense of depth and movement, while the titular ‘pillar of flowers’ appears as an abstract, lush array of floral motifs, merging with the background and seemingly enveloping the woman in a natural element. Redon’s use of abstract forms and colors over realistic representation expresses the Symbolist interest in depicting the unseen and evoking a response from the subconscious.
