Artwork
Cul-de-Lampe
Cul-de-Lampe is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Odilon Redon. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Cul‑de‑Lampe is a black‑and‑white lithographic print executed by French artist Odilon Redon in 1890. The work presents a single thistle rendered in a compact format, emphasizing the plant’s spiky form against a stark background.
Subject & Meaning
The image isolates the thistle’s radiating bracts and central disc, punctuated by two minute apertures at its core. By focusing on this solitary botanical element, Redon invites contemplation of natural texture and the delicate balance between vigor and fragility.
Technique & Style
Created through lithography, the print employs a loose, almost scratchy line quality that conveys the thistle’s rough surface. The thin stem and leaf are suggested with minimal, gestural strokes, underscoring the work’s immediacy and study‑like character.
History & Provenance
Produced in the late nineteenth century, Cul‑de‑Lampe reflects Redon’s interest in botanical subjects during a period when he explored both symbolist themes and experimental printmaking. The piece remains a modestly sized example of his lithographic output from the 1890s.
Artist & collection
Artist
Born Bertrand-Jean Redon on 20 April 1840 in Bordeaux, the artist adopted the name Odilon from his mother, Marie-Odile.
