Artwork

Et la-bas l'idole astrale, l'Apotheose (And beyond, the star idol, the apotheosis)

Et la-bas l'idole astrale, l'Apotheose (And beyond, the star idol, the apotheosis) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Odilon Redon. It dates from 1891 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1891, Et la-bas l'idole astrale, l'Apotheose is a lithographic print by French symbolist Odilon Redon. The work presents a solitary, hooded figure seated within a large, spiraling circle, rendered in a muted palette that emphasizes chiaroscuro. The composition balances a dark, textured background with a focal point illuminated only partially, inviting contemplation of the unseen.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure, cloaked and holding a staff, appears caught in a moment of introspection or ritual. The half‑lit face, deep shadows under the eyes, and the enveloping circle suggest a liminal space between the earthly and the celestial. The title’s reference to an “astral idol” and “apotheosis” hints at a transcendental ascent or a mythic transformation beyond ordinary perception.

Technique & Style

The contrast between the soft drapery of the robe and the stark, cloudy background underscores the tension between material form and ethereal suggestion.

Redon employed the lithographic process, allowing for fluid, sketch‑like lines that retain a spontaneous quality. The uneven strokes and rough textures give the image an unfinished, dreamlike atmosphere, characteristic of Redon’s later symbolist phase. The contrast between the soft drapery of the robe and the stark, cloudy background underscores the tension between material form and ethereal suggestion.

Context

The print belongs to a period when Redon was shifting from charcoal and pastel works toward more experimental printmaking. By the early 1890s he was exploring themes of mysticism, the subconscious, and the boundary between reality and imagination, aligning his practice with broader symbolist currents in French art.

Legacy

While not as widely reproduced as some of Redon’s later color lithographs, this piece exemplifies his transition toward abstraction and the use of print media to convey poetic ambiguity. It continues to be referenced in studies of symbolist printmaking for its nuanced handling of line, light, and metaphysical subject matter.