The Marsh Flower, a Sad Human Head

Series Title: Homage to Goya

1885

Lemercier & Cie.

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Culture

France, 19th century

Medium

lithograph on China paper laid on wove paper

Support

China paper; wove paper

Measurements

Image: 27.5 x 20.5 cm (10 13/16 x 8 1/16 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland 1927.344.2

Catalogue raisonné

Mellerio 55

State

I/I

Edition

first edition (edition of 50)

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Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

This portfolio was published in an edition of 50, one of which Redon sent to poet Stéphane Mallarmé soon after Redon became a frequent participant in a literary salon held regularly at Mallarmé's home.

Description

This series is one of many that Odilon Redon created throughout his career. Nearly two-thirds of his lithographs took the form of portfolios—prints connected conceptually by a theme or narrative and physically by a folder or binding. Such works were often dispersed over time, but Cleveland was fortunate to acquire several complete sets with their original covers during the 1920s. Dating from Redon’s early experimentation with lithography, Homage to Goya was intended as a tribute to 18th-century Spanish master Francisco de Goya, whose interest in dreams and the subconscious influenced Redon. The six seemingly unrelated images celebrate Goya’s ambiguity and collectively suggest the introspection and isolation of artistic practice.