Artwork Page for Symbolic Head

Details / Information for Symbolic Head

Symbolic Head

c. 1890

Odilon Redon

(French, 1840–1916)
Culture
France, 19th century
Medium
oil on paper mounted on canvas
Measurements
Framed: 69 x 54.5 x 7.5 cm (27 3/16 x 21 7/16 x 2 15/16 in.); Unframed: 53.3 x 38 cm (21 x 14 15/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of the Mildred Andrews Fund 1988.91
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

Symbolism was a reaction against Realism and Redon is one of the most important artists affiliated with this movement. The symbolist painters used mystical dreamlike images that were highly personal in their work.

Description

One of Redon’s favorite themes was a head depicted in profile, sometimes separated from the body to symbolize the spirit released from the material world. It also suggests a metaphor for abandoning physical reality for the inner realm of dreams, fantasy, and poetic reverie. This painting conveys the idea of inward-turning vision by framing the head in a series of collapsing rectangles. Conservation analysis confirms that the figure is a woman wearing a helmet and holding a green staff in her right hand.
A vertically oriented oil painting depicts a profile of a figure with dark brown skin facing our left. Centrally, the figure wears a light blue and white head covering that drapes over their neck and a yellow garment with red floral patterns and a ribbed collar. A textured, vibrant red background surrounds them, situated above a thick, dark horizontal band at the bottom of the composition.

Symbolic Head

c. 1890

Odilon Redon

(French, 1840–1916)
France, 19th century

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