The artwork titled “Everywhere eyeballs are aflame” by artist Odilon Redon was created in the year 1888. It is a lithograph on paper that exemplifies the Symbolist movement. The dimensions of this symbolic painting are 20.5 x 15.9 cm. This piece forms part of the “Temptation of Saint Anthony (1st series)” and is currently housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
The artwork depicts a solitary, large eyeball hovering over an undefined landscape, its iris and pupil prominently centered and surrounded by meticulously detailed lashes. The background is composed of finely textured marks, contrasting with the smoother rendering of the eyeball. Below, a stark, dark rocky outcrop emerges, grounding the otherwise ethereal and surreal composition. This scene is evocative of the Symbolist movement’s penchant for dream-like imagery and exploring the psychological and metaphysical realms through art. Through prevalent themes of fantasy, mythology, and the inner mind, the artwork invites introspection and interpretation, asserting powerful symbolism that resonates with the guiding principles of the Symbolist art movement to which Odilon Redon contributed significantly.
