Artwork
Oannès
Oannès is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Odilon Redon. It dates from 1908 and is held in the collection of the Kröller-Müller Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1908, *Oannès* is an oil painting by French artist Odilon Redon. Executed during the latter phase of his career, the work reflects Redon’s transition from the monochrome drawings that defined his early Symbolist output to the richer, color‑laden canvases of his post‑Impressionist period. The painting is part of the permanent collection of the Kröller‑Müller Museum in the Netherlands.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a solitary woman whose eyes are gently shut and whose long hair trails behind her in a fluid motion. She is set against a muted, pastel background punctuated by vague, abstract forms that suggest symbols or dream‑like elements. The overall mood is one of quiet contemplation, evoking a sense of inner peace and introspection.
Technique & Style
Redon applied oil paint in a soft, blended manner, allowing colors to merge and create a hazy atmosphere.
Redon applied oil paint in a soft, blended manner, allowing colors to merge and create a hazy atmosphere. The palette is restrained, favoring subdued tones that enhance the tranquil ambience. Subtle brushwork defines the figure’s contours while the surrounding shapes are rendered with a looser, almost impressionistic touch, illustrating Redon’s shift from his earlier monochrome charcoal works to a more chromatic language.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered the collection of Dutch industrialist and collector Helene Kröller‑Müller, whose extensive holdings formed the basis of the museum that now displays the work. The piece has remained in the Kröller‑Müller Museum since its acquisition, where it is exhibited alongside other late‑period Redon canvases.
Context
*Oannès* belongs to the period when Redon, originally celebrated for his black‑ink drawings and lithographs, began exploring color in the 1890s. By the turn of the century he had largely abandoned the stark monochrome aesthetic of his “noirs,” embracing the softer, more lyrical visual language that characterizes his later oil paintings. This work exemplifies that evolution, merging Symbolist sensibility with post‑Impressionist color treatment.
Artist & collection
Artist
Born Bertrand-Jean Redon on 20 April 1840 in Bordeaux, the artist adopted the name Odilon from his mother, Marie-Odile.
