The artwork “Closed Eyes” by the artist Odilon Redon dates back to the year 1890. It is a painting executed in oil on canvas, measuring 44 by 36 centimeters. This work is associated with the Symbolist art movement and is categorized as a portrait. Presently, it resides in the Musée d’Orsay, situated in Paris, France.
The painting is a haunting depiction of a figure with closed eyes, giving an impression of an entrancing inner life or a state of peaceful repose. The subject is rendered with softened edges, conveying a sort of ethereal quality that is typical of Redon’s work, which often leans towards the dreamy and the introspective. Dominated by a palette of muted blues and soft, dusky flesh tones, the artwork exudes a serene, almost mystical atmosphere that invites contemplation. The figure’s closed eyes, the central feature of the piece, accentuate an impression of detachment from the outside world, strongly aligning with the Symbolist movement’s focus on emotion and ideas over realistic representation. The delicate interplay of shadows and light across the figure’s features adds depth and a gentle luminosity to the portrait, further emphasizing the introspective theme of the work.