Below, I saw the vaporous contours of a human form
Original title: Below, I saw the vaporous contours of a human form
kurzbeschreibung
A seated figure in the foreground and a large dark form behind her define this 1896 lithograph by Odilon Redon. The print belongs to the series 'Les Fleurs du Mal', made after poems by Charles Baudelaire. It measures 44.6 x 31.4 cm, with an image area of 25.3 x 18 cm.
Description
On a chair sits a figure in a dress, surrounded by diffuse light from above. To the rear right rises a tall dark shape with two protruding eyes, seemingly wrapped in mist or smoke. The layout is asymmetrical: the seated figure on the left, the dark apparition on the right. Grays dominate, with strong shading and contrasts that create a somber mood.
Context
The lithograph was made as part of Redon's portfolio 'Les Fleurs du Mal', published in 1896 and based on Baudelaire's collection of the same name. The series comprises twelve lithographs dealing with death, dream, and melancholy. In the 1890s Redon used lithography intensively to realize his visionary and symbolist motifs. The scene might refer to a poem such as 'La Mort des amants' or 'Un voyage à Cythère'.
Impact
Oppressive and mysterious, the print works through the interplay of diffuse light and dark shadows. The large, eye-emphasized figure seems threatening and surreal, while the seated figure radiates a fragile presence. The gray palette reinforces the melancholic and dreamlike character.
Technique
For this lithograph Redon drew with fatty chalk on a limestone—a planographic process. Fine shadings and contrasts arise from varying printing pressure and the treatment of the stone surface. Lithography allowed Redon soft transitions and a wide range of grays, ideal for his misty and visionary depictions.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)