Artwork
Christ
Christ is a print by the Impressionist artist Odilon Redon. It dates from 1887 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Christ is a lithograph by Odilon Redon depicting a non-traditional, beardless Christ with eyes closed, conveying a sense of weariness and suffering under an oversized crown of thorns, set against a dark, dreamlike background.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents a melancholic Christ, emphasizing his anguish through expressive facial features and the prominent, angular crown of thorns, inviting contemplation on the figure's emotional state.
Technique & Style
Redon utilized lithography's capabilities, drawing with a crayon on stone and scraping it to achieve contrasting textures: sharp, geometric thorn details and softer, shaded facial contours, enhanced by deep, evocative blacks.
Context
The piece reflects Redon's experimentation with lithography, leveraging its tonal range to create a chiaroscuro effect, where strong contrasts between light and dark amplify the dramatic and introspective atmosphere.
Artist & collection
Artist
Born Bertrand-Jean Redon on 20 April 1840 in Bordeaux, the artist adopted the name Odilon from his mother, Marie-Odile.
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First a Pool of Water, Then a Prostitute, the Corner of a Temple, a Soldier's Face, a Chariot with Two White, Rearing Horses
And I John Saw These Things, and Heard Them
And In the Very Disk of the Sun Shines the Face of Jesus Christ
And the Devil That Deceived Them was Cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, Where the Beast and the False Prophet Are
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