Artwork
Béatrice
Béatrice is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Odilon Redon. It dates from 1897 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Béatrice is a 1897 color lithograph on chine collé by Odilon Redon, characterized by soft, dreamy forms in muted yellows and blues that evoke a sense of ambiguity and mistiness.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts vaguely discernible elements resembling a face and a bird, intentionally left blurry to conjure an impression of a fleeting, sketchy memory rather than distinct representation.
Technique & Style
Redon employed lithography to achieve smooth color blending, eschewing sharp lines in favor of a hazy, blended effect that enhances the overall dreamy quality of the piece.
History & Provenance
Created in 1897, specific provenance details of Béatrice are not provided, highlighting the work within the broader context of Redon's late 19th-century output.
Context
Béatrice reflects Redon's exploration of Symbolist themes, where ambiguity and suggestion were preferred over clear representation, aligning with the movement's emphasis on the subjective and the subconscious.
Legacy
As a quintessential example of Redon's Symbolist prints, Béatrice influences subsequent artists in their use of lithography for expressive, dreamlike imagery, contributing to the evolution of early 20th-century printmaking.
Artist & collection
Artist
Born Bertrand-Jean Redon on 20 April 1840 in Bordeaux, the artist adopted the name Odilon from his mother, Marie-Odile.
