The artwork entitled “Lenor appears in front of the black sun of melancholy” was created by Odilon Redon in 1882. It is a lithograph on paper that measures 19.2 x 15.8 cm and belongs to the Symbolism movement. This piece is an illustration that is part of the “To Edgar Poe” series. The artwork is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in Los Angeles, California, United States.
The artwork, executed primarily in a monochrome palette, depicts a profile view of a figure believed to be Lenor, emerging in stark relief against a dark, textured background. The personification of melancholy is depicted as a female figure set against a large, shadowy orb that evokes the “black sun,” a symbol resonating with themes of sadness and despair. The figure’s ethereal and contemplative expression enhances the sense of introspection and the search for deeper meaning, which is characteristic of Symbolist art. The artwork’s high contrast and dramatic use of light and shadow accentuate the emotional and psychological depth Redon sought to express, drawing on the literary connections to Edgar Allan Poe’s evocative themes.