The artwork “Onnes (Christ and the Serpent)” was created by the artist Odilon Redon in 1907. It is executed in oil on panel, and the piece is an exemplar of the Symbolism art movement. The genre of this painting is religious, depicting a narrative steeped in spiritual themes. As of the last available information, the artwork is held within a private collection.
This artwork by Redon presents a composition that is vibrant in color and rich in symbolic content. The dominant hues of red and green create a visual contrast, imbuing the scene with emotional and metaphorical depth. The central figure, shrouded in darkness, is presumably representing Christ, surrounded by forms that suggest the presence of a serpent, which may be a symbol of temptation or evil, referencing biblical themes of sin and redemption. The background is executed with a more subdued palette, allowing the dramatic interplay of the central figures to take precedence. Redon’s treatment of the subject matter aligns with the Symbolist movement’s emphasis on depicting the mystical and the emotional through evocative and sometimes enigmatic imagery.