Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Odilon Redon in 1878.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Museum of Modern Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Untitled

Odilon Redon , 1878

Untitled is a charcoal drawing by the Impressionist artist Odilon Redon. It dates from 1878 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1878, this drawing by French Symbolist Odilon Redon combines charcoal and chalk on a sheet of colored paper.

Created in 1878, this drawing by French Symbolist Odilon Redon combines charcoal and chalk on a sheet of colored paper. The composition is dominated by a central, eye‑shaped form surrounded by radiating, spiky lines that suggest lashes, set against a muted landscape populated with vague vegetal elements. The overall tone is dark, with the lighter paper background providing contrast to the dense, gestural marks.

Subject & Meaning

The focal point resembles a large, stylized eye, its pupil suggested by a smaller inner circle. Encircling it, jagged strokes evoke a sense of vigilance or an otherworldly gaze, while the surrounding terrain hints at a dreamlike, perhaps subconscious, environment. The ambiguous symbolism aligns with Redon’s interest in inner visions and the unseen realms that characterize Symbolist concerns.

Technique & Style

Redon employed charcoal’s deep blacks alongside chalk’s softer tones, allowing for both sharp contour and subtle shading. The colored paper serves as a mid‑tone ground, enabling the artist to build volume through additive highlights and subtractive darkness. The drawing’s gestural lines and textured surfaces reflect Redon’s early monochrome phase, prior to his later embrace of pastel color.

History & Provenance

The work belongs to Redon’s formative period, when he concentrated on charcoal and lithographic “noirs.” Produced before his transition to pastel and oil in the 1890s, it exemplifies his early exploration of mood through limited palette. The drawing has remained within private collections before entering its current institutional setting, illustrating the artist’s evolving reputation during the late nineteenth century.