Odilon Redon

Portrait of Violette Heymann
Odilon Redon
1910

My favorite artist unequivocally is the French painter Odilon Redon (April 20, 1840 – July 6, 1916).  This summer I was fortunate enough to see some of his original works of art, and I felt as though I were in the presence of greatness.  Well, I suppose I was. He inspires me so much, I renewed my membership to the Vancouver Art Gallery, just so I could visit his little drawings as often as possible.   I have also enrolled in an oil painting course this fall at Continuing Education.

Anemones

No other artist uses color the way Redon does.  His vases of flowers are vibrant and full of energy and look as if they leapt out of Redon's psychedelic dreams and onto his canvas.  But he also drew strange, dark charcoals that seemed to be images from nightmares. He is quoted as saying, "I have often, as an exercise and as a sustenance, painted before an object down to the smallest accidents of its visual appearance; but the day left me sad and with an unsatiated thirst. The next day I let the other source run, that of imagination, through the recollection of the forms and I was then reassured and appeased." I think some folks are blessed with the gift of genius, and Odilon Redon was one of those fortunate people. Here are a few more of his wonderful drawings and paintings.

The Crying Spider

Bouquet of Flowers

Vase of Flowers

La coquille (The Seashell)

Muse auf Pegasus