The artwork titled “Oannès: I, the first consciousness of chaos, arose from the abyss that I might harden matter, and give law unto forms (plate 14)” is a creation by the artist Odilon Redon, dating back to 1896. Executed through the medium of lithography on paper, this work is a component of “The Temptation of Saint Anthony” series and is characterized by the Symbolist art movement. It is categorized within the mythological painting genre, reflecting the Symbolists’ fascination with the mystical and the unseen realms.
The artwork portrays a mystical and otherworldly scene, seemingly emerging from a void or abyss, consistent with the Symbolism movement’s emphasis on the expression of emotional experiences rather than physical reality. It features a central figure, possibly representing the entity Oannès, which appears to emerge from the encompassing darkness, with pronounced features and an indistinct body that seems both fluid and solid. The ephemeral quality of the figure suggests a primordial presence with an enigmatic aura. The composition is heavily reliant on the interplay of light and shadow, evoking a feeling of depth and volume within the otherwise two-dimensional plane of the lithograph. The expressive use of dark tones conveys a sense of the profound and mysterious nature of the subject.
The title and the inscribed text on the artwork itself hint at a narrative of creation, with Oannès declaring itself as the initial consciousness emerging from chaos to give order and tangibility to the formless. The text also serves as an anchor, giving both context and a voice to the visual element, thus deepening the connection between the viewer and the depicted mythological concept. Such a synthesis of image and word is typical for Redon and the Symbolist movement, where art sought to transcend the mundane and tap into the deeper, often spiritual or philosophical, currents of the human psyche.
