Centaure visant les Nues

About this artwork

Aankoop uit het F.G. Waller-Fonds

Art Historical Context

Odilon Redon's *Centaure visant lesues* (1895) is a captivating lithography that embodies the artist's mastery of Symbolism, a movement blending dreamlike fantasy with psychological depth. Created during the fin de siècle, when Redon was transitioning from his iconic "noirs" (black-white works) to vibrant colors, this print draws on classical mythology. A centaur—half-man, half-horse—aims his bow at ethereal female nudes, evoking tension between primal instinct and idealized beauty, themes resonant in Redon's oeuvre inspired by poets like Baudelaire and Poe. Printed in lithography, a technique Redon perfected in the 1890s through series like *Dans le Rêve*, the work measures a intimate 314 × 245 mm. This medium allowed subtle gradations of tone, misty atmospheres, and intricate details, making multiples accessible while preserving the aura of an original drawing. The subtle interplay of light and shadow heightens its otherworldly quality, inviting viewers to ponder the subconscious. Acquired through the F.G. Waller Fund, this piece highlights Redon's enduring influence on modern art, bridging 19th-century Romanticism and Surrealism. A gem for any collection, it whispers of hidden desires amid mythological reverie.

About the Artist

Odilon Redon · 1840–1916

Odilon Redon (1840-1916) was a French Symbolist painter, printmaker, and pastellist whose visionary art bridged the 19th-century Symbolist movement and 20th-century Surrealism. Born Bertrand Redon in Bordeaux on April 20, 1840, he earned the nickname "Odilon" from his mother Odile. His father, who made his fortune in the Louisiana slave trade, conceived Odilon in New Orleans before the family retu...