ARTISTS WE LOVE: Odilon Redon

WHO: Odilon Redon

WHAT: Painter

WHERE: France

WHEN: 22 April 1840 – 6 July 1916

Odilon Redon, born Bertrand Redon to a prosperous family in Bordeaux, France, was a painter and pastellist well-known for his dark and fantastical works of art. He was part of the Symbolist movement which was related to the gothic component of Romanticism and Impressionism. In 1884 he shot to fame when Joris-Karl Huysmans published his cult novel Á rebours which featured a decadent aristocrat character who collected Redon’s drawings. While his earlier works were inspired more by nightmares and dreams, he later on became interested in Buddhism and Hinduism which translated into works of art with the theme of “the triumph of light over darkness” according to art historian Michael Gibson. Check out some of his expressive works below.

The painting featured at the top of this post is “Evocation of Roussel”, painted by Redon in 1912.

Armor, Odilon Redon, 1891

Poppies and Daisies, Odilon Redon, 1867

Saint George and the Dragon, Odilon Redon, 1910