A Veil, a Printed Image
Original title: A Veil, a Printed Image
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many related portrayals of women from those years, this 1891 lithograph by Odilon Redon, titled A Veil, a Printed Image, thrives on the contrast between a curly-haired profile and an almost empty dark ground. The sheet remains entirely in black and white, with the woman placed at the center of the image field.
Description
A woman is seen in profile, her face tilted slightly to the left. Her curls and the wide, striking collar of her dress stand out clearly. Behind her lies a plain dark area that draws the eye to her face; the arrangement feels calm and centrally placed, with hardly any shadows discernible. At the bottom edge appear the name ODILON REDON and the line c'était un voile, une EMPREINTE, while pl.I is inscribed at the top.
Context
In 1891 Redon was increasingly working with printmaking techniques, and this sheet falls within that period. It belongs to the Symbolist milieu, which turned away from Naturalism. Redon's preference for the hidden and the dreamlike is reflected here, and the notation pl.I suggests the work was part of a series.
Impact
The even light and central placement give rise to a quiet, almost reverent mood. The realistic touch, with its mysterious overtone, creates a subtle tension that holds the viewer's gaze.
Technique
Redon drew with greasy chalk on the stone and printed using the planographic process of lithography. The sharp black-and-white contrasts and delicate lines demonstrate his assured handling of this technique. The numbering at the top edge suggests the sheet belongs to an edition.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)