Odilon Redon | Still Life

Odilon Redon's still life paintings are known for their vibrant colors, dreamlike atmosphere, and Symbolist style.

Unlike traditional still lifes that seek realism, Redon's works are visual meditations that place the visible in the service of the invisible, evoking emotion and imagination.

Atypical career progression: Redon had an unusual career, moving from his dark, monochrome charcoal drawings and lithographs—his "noirs" - to a brilliant, colorful style late in his life, which produced many of his famous still lifes.

Evocation and suggestion: Instead of rendering flora realistically, Redon uses flowers and objects to hint at a transfigured, dreamlike nature.

The forms may float in an ethereal, misty space, sometimes accompanied by otherworldly creatures like butterflies emerging from the canvas.

Symbolist influence: Redon was heavily influenced by the Symbolist movement, which focused on using symbols to express inner emotions and ideas.

His still lifes move beyond mere representation to a deeper, introspective exploration of the imagination and subconscious.

Expressive use of color: Redon employed vibrant colors in his pastels and oils, creating striking contrasts and rich, velvety surfaces.

In many works, luminous and intense hues emerge from a hazy or atmospheric background, making the colors seem to take form like thoughts in a dream.

Notable techniques: Redon often layered pastel with fixative, brushing the layers into each other to create the unique textures seen in his still lifes.