In My Dream I Saw in the Sky a Face of Mystery

Homage to Goya

In My Dream I Saw in the Sky a Face of Mystery

1885

Part of a set, view all set records

Lemercier & Cie.

France, 19th century

lithograph on China paper laid on wove paper

Support: China paper; wove paper

Image: 29.1 x 23.9 cm (11 7/16 x 9 7/16 in.)

Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland 1927.344.1

Catalogue raisonné: Mellerio 54

State: I/I

Edition: first edition (edition of 50)

Location: not on view

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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.