The artwork “Self Portrait” by Odilon Redon was created in 1880, employing the medium of oil on canvas. This work is a representative piece of the Symbolism art movement. As a self-portrait, it offers a deeply personal representation of the artist himself. Currently, the artwork finds its residence at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, France.
In the artwork, Odilon Redon portrays himself with a solemn and introspective expression. The portrait is notable for its dark tonality and subdued color palette, emphasizing the artist’s features with nuanced shading rather than stark contrast or bright hues. His gaze meets the observer directly, evoking a sense of contemplation or inward reflection. The brushwork is delicate and precise, allowing for a textured rendering of his face and especially of the beard and the subtle highlights in the hair. The portrait embodies the Symbolist focus on the mystical and the expression of emotional experiences over the depiction of external reality, suggesting a psychological depth consistent with the movement’s ethos. The background is minimal, dark, and unobtrusive, ensuring that the focus remains steadily on Redon himself, thus enhancing the introspective quality of the self-portrait.