Created in 1890 by artist Odilon Redon, the artwork titled “Ceaselessly by my side the demon stirs” is a work of lithography on paper, measuring 25.6 x 20.7 cm. This piece is emblematic of the Symbolism art movement and falls within the genre of symbolic painting. It is currently housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, located in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
The artwork presents a captivating and otherworldly vision, invoking a sense of introspection and contemplation. It depicts a scene featuring a figure seated beside a monumental, seemingly animated rock formation that looms in the background. The rock’s features suggest the vague semblance of a demonic profile with a brooding countenance. This ambiguous silhouette casts a dark shadow over the scene, potentially symbolizing an omnipresent force or internal struggle.
A bright, luminous orb, possibly indicative of the moon, punctuates the composition, situated directly behind the demonic form, radiating light that appears to fracture around the edges of the rocky figure. This stark contrast of light and dark elements further accentuates the spectral and enigmatic quality of the piece.
The seated figure, diminutive in scale compared to the massiveness of the rock, seems to be engaged in a silent and introspective communion with the looming presence. The surrounding landscape is rendered with fine, delicate lines, suggesting a barren and desolate atmosphere, which may be a metaphor for the isolation or desolation of the human soul amidst the cosmic forces implied in the composition.
Overall, Redon’s “Ceaselessly by my side the demon stirs” is evocative of the Symbolist’s fascination with the unseen, the inner world of emotion, and the mysterious forces that lie beyond the visible realm.