The artwork “Rodolphe Bresdin” was created by the artist Odilon Redon in 1865. It is a portrait rendered in pencil on paper and is representative of the Symbolist art movement. The dimensions of the piece measure 31 cm in height by 24.2 cm in width. This artwork exemplifies Redon’s interest in capturing the essence of his subjects with an approach that aligns with the Symbolist emphasis on emotion and ideas over direct representation.
In the portrait, the artwork captures the visage of an individual in a manner that seems to emerge from the paper rather than being strictly defined by bold lines. The technique employed by Redon allows the portrait to convey an intimate and somewhat ethereal quality, with soft, gentle pencil strokes that create both shadow and form. The subject’s facial features are suggested more than they are overtly defined, inviting the viewer to participate in the completion of the image. The artwork’s execution, emphasizing atmosphere and inner character rather than overt realism, is characteristic of the Symbolist movement’s broader themes, which often sought to express the ineffable and emotive aspects of human experience.