Artwork
Obsession
Obsession is a print by the Impressionist artist Odilon Redon. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Obsession, a 1894 print by French Symbolist artist Odilon Redon, features a woman in a flowing dress set against a dark backdrop, accompanied by a skull, snake, and ghostly face above her head. The soft, smudged lines and strategic use of chiaroscuro create a haunting visual contrast.
Subject & Meaning
The subject of Obsession is a woman beset by ominous, floating entities—a skull, snake, and wide-eyed ghostly face—suggesting themes of fear, the subconscious, or the haunting power of obsessions. The exact narrative remains ambiguous, inviting interpretation.
Technique & Style
Redon employed soft, smudged lines reminiscent of pencil work, combined with chiaroscuro to achieve a stark, haunting contrast between light and dark. This technique accentuates the figures, drawing the viewer's eye through the darkness.
History & Provenance
Created in 1894, Obsession marks a period in Redon's career when he was transitioning from charcoal and lithography (his earlier *noirs*) towards a preference for pastels and oils, though this work's medium specifically is not detailed here.
Context
Redon's work, including Obsession, was influenced by his association with Symbolism, emphasizing emotional and psychological depth. His career gained momentum after a mention in Joris-Karl Huysmans' 1884 novel *À rebours*, solidifying his place in late 19th-century French art.
Legacy
Obsession contributes to Redon's legacy as a master of evocative, psychologically complex imagery. His use of chiaroscuro and symbolic elements has influenced subsequent artists exploring themes of the subconscious and fear.
Artist & collection
Artist
Born Bertrand-Jean Redon on 20 April 1840 in Bordeaux, the artist adopted the name Odilon from his mother, Marie-Odile.
The Haunting (Hantise)
Untitled
La Mort: Mon ironie depasse toutes les autres! (Death: My iron surpasses all others!)
The Man Was Alone in a Night Landscape
And a Large Bird, Descending from the Sky, Hurls Itself against the Topmost Point of Her Hair
La Femme (frontispiece)
Et il avait dans sa main droit sept etoiles, et de sa bouch sortait une epee aigue a deux tranchants (And he had in his right hand seven stars; and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword)
Untitled
And He Had in His Right Hand Seven Stars; and Out of His Mouth Went a Sharp Two-Edged Sword
Upon Awakening I Saw the Goddess of the Intelligible with Her Severe and Hard Profile
Perversité
Hantise (Obsession)