The artwork titled “Immediately three goddesses arise (plate 11)” by Odilon Redon, created in 1896, is a lithograph on paper that serves as a sketch and study. It forms part of “The Temptation of Saint Anthony” series and exemplifies the Symbolist art movement, which favored the use of symbolic imagery over realistic representation, aiming to depict the mystical and the ideal.
In this artwork, one observes an ethereal and dynamic scene with three figures appearing to arise from nothingness, their forms sketched with minimal yet expressive lines. These figures, suggested to be goddesses by the title of the work, exhibit a sense of motion and otherworldly grace. The composition’s simplicity, with the figures set against a blank background, evokes an imaginative and intangible realm. The lines themselves are fluid, and the absence of detailed features invites viewers to engage with the piece on a level beyond the literal, in keeping with the symbolic intent of the artist. This presentation of the subject matter implies a narrative, potentially alluding to mythical or spiritual themes characteristic of Symbolist works, especially those related to temptation and divinity. The viewer is left to ponder the connection between the figures and the broader story they represent within “The Temptation of Saint Anthony” series, which collectively explores complex themes of faith, asceticism, and the human psyche.
