Artwork
Lumiere (Light)
Lumiere (Light) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Odilon Redon. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Lumiere (Light) is a 1893 lithograph by French artist Odilon Redon, characterized by a contemplative, softly rendered scene.
Subject & Meaning
A shadowy figure, hands clasped, sits by a window, their face faintly illuminated from behind. A smaller, partially lit figure stands outside, evoking themes of solitude, quietude, or anticipation.
Technique & Style
Redon employed soft, expressive lines and pronounced dark tones to prioritize atmospheric mood over detailed representation, leveraging lithography's capabilities for nuanced shading.
History & Provenance
Created in 1893, specific provenance details for this work are not provided.
Context
Part of Redon's oeuvre exploring symbolism and emotional depth, Lumiere (Light) reflects his transition towards more expressive and psychologically complex themes during this period.
Legacy
While not individually detailed here, Lumiere (Light) contributes to Redon's broader influence on early 20th-century printmaking and expressive art movements.
Artist & collection
Artist
Born Bertrand-Jean Redon on 20 April 1840 in Bordeaux, the artist adopted the name Odilon from his mother, Marie-Odile.
Lueur precaire, une tete a l'infini suspendue(Precarious glimmering, a head suspended
Saint-Antoine...A travers ses longs cheveux qui lui couvraient la figure, j'ai cru reconnaitre Ammonaria (Saint Anthony: "Beneathe her long hair , which covered her face, I thought I recognized Ammonaria)
A Woman Clothed with the Sun
Escalier sculpte rue Boutebrie
Untitled
The Roman Studio (L'Atelier de Rome)
L'Art Celeste (The Celestial Art)
Le Sphynx...mon regard que rien ne peut devier, demeure tendu a travers les choses sur un horizon inaccessible. La Chimere: Moi,Je suis legere et joyeuse (The Sphinx: "My gaze, which nothing can deflect, passes through the things and remains fixed on an inaccessible horizon." The Chimera: "I am weightless and joyful")
A Blacksmith (Un Forgeron)
Light