The Buddha

Art Historical Context

Odilon Redon's *The Buddha* (1895) is a mesmerizing lithograph that captures the French Symbolist's fascination with mysticism and the exotic East. Printed in black ink on delicate ivory China paper laid down on ivory wove paper this work measures 31.4 × 25 cm for the image alone, showcasing Redon's mastery of lithography—a technique he championed for its ability to blend drawing's precision with painterly softness through subtle tonal gradations. As a key figure in Symbolism, Redon moved beyond Realism in the 1890s, exploring dreamlike visions inspired by literature, science, and spirituality. Created during a period when Western artists like Redon were drawn to Eastern philosophies amid fin-de-siècle spiritual searching, *The Buddha* reflects Buddhism's growing allure in Europe. The serene, ethereal figure embodies transcendence, rendered with Redon's characteristic ambiguity—veiled forms that invite contemplation rather than literal depiction. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings Department, this print highlights lithography's democratic potential, allowing intricate, atmospheric effects to reach wider audiences. A gem for visitors, it invites us to pause and ponder the universal quest for enlightenment, bridging cultures through art's quiet power.

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...