The artwork titled “The Death of Ophelia” was created by artist Odilon Redon in 1905. This oil on canvas piece is notably from the Symbolism movement, a genre that often sought to represent ideas and emotions through evocative and non-realistic imagery. The genre of the artwork is classified as a literary painting, which indicates that it draws its subject matter from literature, in this case, Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet”.
The artwork exhibits the final, tragic moments of Ophelia, a character from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, as she is enveloped by the water in which she meets her demise. Redon has chosen to abstract the form of Ophelia, dissolving her figure into the surrounding environment. The choice of composition and the melding of colors create a dreamlike quality that is characteristic of Symbolist art. Ophelia’s silhouette is rendered with flowing lines and a stark contrast of warm and somber hues suggests both the vibrancy of life and the shadow of death. The background is tumultuous, with swirling brushstrokes that suggest the churning waters and the turmoil of the scene.
Redon’s work often dwelt on themes of fantasy, and in “The Death of Ophelia”, he appears to present an ethereal interpretation of the moment, focusing less on the literal depiction and more on the emotional and poetic resonance. The use of colors and fluid representation of form help to evoke a sense of melancholy and otherworldliness, aiming to capture the viewer’s emotions and imagination rather than provide a direct narrative.