Artwork
Untitled

Untitled is a graphite drawing by the Impressionist artist Odilon Redon. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
The drawing is rendered in pencil on colored paper, with the artist employing a range of lines and shading to create depth and texture.
This portrait depicts a man in profile, gazing to the right. He wears a hat and a scarf, and his attire appears to be from the 19th century.
The drawing is rendered in pencil on colored paper, with the artist employing a range of lines and shading to create depth and texture. The subject's expression is contemplative, inviting the viewer to ponder his thoughts.
The artist's use of pencil on colored paper adds a sense of intimacy and immediacy to the portrait. To explore more works by the artist who created this piece, look up Odilon Redon.
Overview
Created circa 1866, this drawing by French Symbolist Odilon Redon is executed in pencil on a sheet of colored paper. It represents an early stage in Redon’s career, before his later adoption of pastel and oil media, and before he abandoned the monochrome “noirs” that dominated his output in the 1870s and 1880s.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays a solitary male figure in profile, his gaze directed toward the right. Dressed in a hat and a scarf typical of the nineteenth century, the sitter’s thoughtful expression suggests introspection, inviting viewers to consider the inner life hinted at by his calm demeanor.
Technique & Style
Redon employs a range of delicate pencil strokes and subtle shading to model the face and clothing, exploiting the tinted surface of the paper to enhance tonal variation. The interplay of line and gradation creates a sense of depth while the colored ground adds a quiet, intimate atmosphere to the portrait.
History & Provenance
The drawing belongs to Redon’s early period, when he primarily worked in charcoal and lithography, producing the so‑called “noirs.” It predates his shift toward brighter media in the 1890s and his eventual cessation of the noir style after 1900. The piece remains documented as part of the artist’s formative oeuvre.
Artist & collection
Artist
Born Bertrand-Jean Redon on 20 April 1840 in Bordeaux, the artist adopted the name Odilon from his mother, Marie-Odile.



















