The Vague Glimmer of a Head Suspended in Space
Original title: The vague glimmer of a head suspended in space
kurzbeschreibung
This 1891 lithograph by Odilon Redon presents a floating head within a dark, indeterminate opening. The monochrome print measures 17.4 x 20.8 cm in the image and belongs to Redon's Noirs, whose mysterious mood defines the series.
Description
A head appears in a window-like opening, surrounded by faint, diffuse light. The background remains dark and undefined, creating a surreal atmosphere. Slightly offset to the left, the layout becomes asymmetrical. In the lower area, broken, rock-like forms are suggested. Various shades of gray, modeled through fine shading, carry the motif.
Context
During a phase of intense engagement with the nocturnal and the dreamlike, Redon created this print in 1891. It is part of his graphic works, which he developed alongside painting from the 1880s onward. The motif of the floating head recurs throughout Redon's oeuvre and connects to his earlier charcoal drawings.
Impact
Diffuse light and undefined contours create a gloomy, mysterious mood that transports the viewer into a dreamlike sphere. Because the print is reduced to a few gray tones, the essential comes into focus and leaves room for associations.
Technique
Redon used lithography, drawing with greasy chalk on the stone. Varying printing pressures and the treatment of the stone surface produced fine shadings and soft transitions. Printed in an edition, the sheet shows the nuanced gray scale typical of Redon.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)