Vision (c.1883) by Odilon Redon

Vision - Odilon Redon - c.1883

Artwork Information

TitleVision
ArtistOdilon Redon
Datec.1883
Mediumcharcoal,paper
Art MovementSymbolism
Current LocationBaltimore Museum of Art (BMA), Baltimore, MD, US

About Vision

The artwork titled “Vision” is a work by the artist Odilon Redon, dating back to circa 1883. Rendered predominantly in charcoal on paper, it aligns with the Symbolist movement, a genre known for its symbolic and often mystical themes. “Vision” can be classified within the symbolic painting genre, featuring an enigmatic subject that invites introspection and interpretation. This piece is currently housed at the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) in Baltimore, MD, United States.

“Vision” is distinctive for its almost haunting simplicity; the artwork is dominated by the depiction of an eye, enormously magnified, peering out from an otherwise indistinct face. Centered on the paper, the eye captures the viewer’s attention immediately, its gaze both penetrating and inscrutable. The surrounding shadows and the sketchy outline of the face serve to emphasize the eye, which seems to float in a vast emptiness. The detail in the shading around the eye implies a sense of depth and three-dimensionality, contrasting with the flatness of the surrounding space.

The execution in charcoal allows for a rich interplay of light and shadow, a hallmark of Redon’s work. This particular medium contributes to the ethereal and dream-like quality of the piece. The Symbolist movement often endeavored to transcend the visible world, seeking to represent the ineffable and the spiritual. Hence, “Vision” could be construed as an exploration of inner sight or insight rather than simple ocular vision, possibly an allegory for knowledge, enlightenment, or an internal epiphany that belies the mere act of seeing.

The meticulous rendering of the eye, juxtaposed with the vague outline of the face and the abstract darkness, encourages diverse interpretations, a purposeful ambiguity that is at the heart of Symbolist art. Redon’s “Vision” thus remains an evocative and poignant work, inviting viewers to gaze into the metaphysical depths it symbolizes.

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