Artwork
In My Dream I Saw in the Sky a Face of Mystery
In My Dream I Saw in the Sky a Face of Mystery is a print by the Impressionist artist Odilon Redon. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
You see a pale, floating face in a dark sky—no body, just huge eyes and a faint smile.
Redon made this in 1885, when most artists painted real things. He painted dreams instead. The face feels like it’s watching you, but it doesn’t judge. It just is.
If you like this quiet strangeness, look up the technique called sfumato—soft edges that make things feel like they’re fading in and out.
Overview
In My Dream I Saw in the Sky a Face of Mystery is a print by Odilon Redon, created in 1885 as part of his Homage to Goya series, a collection of six lithographs.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a disembodied face floating in a dark sky, characterized by large eyes and a subtle smile, evoking a sense of quiet observation without judgment.
Technique & Style
Redon's use of soft edges and subtle gradations of tone, reminiscent of the sfumato technique, creates a dreamlike atmosphere, blurring the boundaries between the face and its surroundings.
Context
Redon's work diverged from the prevailing realism of his time, instead exploring the realm of dreams and the subconscious, influenced by the 18th-century Spanish artist Francisco de Goya.
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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