The Winged Man (The Fallen Angel) (1880) by Odilon Redon

The Winged Man (The Fallen Angel) - Odilon Redon - 1880

Artwork Information

TitleThe Winged Man (The Fallen Angel)
ArtistOdilon Redon
Date1880
Mediumoil,canvas
Art MovementSymbolism
Current LocationMusée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

About The Winged Man (The Fallen Angel)

“The Winged Man (The Fallen Angel),” created by Odilon Redon in 1880, is an oil on canvas artwork that embodies the Symbolist art movement. This symbolic painting is part of the collection at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, located in Bordeaux, France. Redon’s work is renowned for its evocative and dreamlike qualities, which are often imbued with a sense of the mystical or the unconscious.

The artwork depicts a solitary figure that appears to be an angel, suggested by the presence of wings attached to his back. The figure adopts a strained, almost pleading pose, with one arm outstretched and a hand that appears to beckon or ward off. His darkened form contrasts starkly with the luminescent backdrop, giving the figure a sense of depth and complexity. The wings seem frayed and imperfect, aligning with the title’s implication of a fall from grace or a descent from higher realms.

Redon’s masterful manipulation of light and shadow imbues the painting with a dramatic and poignant atmosphere. The choice of colors, predominantly tones of blue and earth, contribute to the ethereal and somber mood of the piece, underscoring its symbolic significance. The lack of a defined setting further adds to the enigmatic quality of the artwork, directing the viewer’s focus to the emotional state and otherworldly nature of the winged being. The artwork’s thematic focus on spiritual fallibility and the ambiguous interplay between divinity and humanity is quintessentially Symbolist, exploring realms beyond the visible and the known.

Other Artwork from Odilon Redon

More Symbolism Artwork

Scroll to Top