Artwork

Quand s'eveillait la Vie au Fon de la matiere obscure (When life was awakening in the depths of obscure matter)

Quand s'eveillait la Vie au Fon de la matiere obscure (When life was awakening in the depths of obscure matter) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Odilon Redon. It dates from 1883 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Quand s'eveillait la Vie au Fon de la matiere obscure is a 1883 lithograph by Odilon Redon, depicting a surreal, nocturnal scene with a peculiar creature in a dark, ambiguous environment.

Subject & Meaning

The print features a curled, rounded creature with a small head and large eyes, set against a backdrop of ghostly, swirling shapes resembling rings or bubbles, evoking a sense of primordial awakening or emergence of life from darkness.

Technique & Style

Redon utilized lithography's capabilities to achieve soft, smudged lines, creating a mysterious, almost subaqueous atmosphere. The creature's fuzzy texture contrasts with the predominantly black background, highlighted by faint, glowing spots.

History & Provenance

Created in 1883, specific provenance details are not provided in the available information.

Context

This work aligns with Redon's exploration of dreamlike and symbolic themes, characteristic of his period, blending elements of fantasy and the subconscious.

Legacy

While specific legacy details are not provided, the work contributes to Redon's broader influence on Symbolist and early 20th-century artistic movements.