“Caliban on a branch” is a work of art by Odilon Redon, dating back to 1881. This artwork is crafted using chalk and charcoal on paper, and it resides within the symbolism art movement, a genre known for its evocative and mystical qualities. The dimensions of the artwork are 49.9 x 36.7 cm. It is categorized under literary painting genre and currently held at Musée d’Orsay in Paris, France.
The artwork portrays the figure of Caliban, a character from Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest,” rendered with the atmospheric and dreamlike qualities characteristic of Redon’s style. Caliban’s expression is pensive and slightly sorrowful, capturing the creature’s torment and complexity as both monster and victim. The dark, smoky tones and textured shading of the artwork evoke a sense of mystery and ambiguity, fitting for a being that is part human, part something other. The shadowy environment around Caliban further emphasizes the sense of isolation and the mystical atmosphere Redon is famed for invoking in his works. The visual composition unfurls an emotional landscape where the character’s inner turmoil is echoed in the dim and brooding surroundings, ensnaring the viewer in its haunting, symbolic resonance.