Songes
Original title: Cover of Songes Album
kurzbeschreibung
Odilon Redon designed this lithographed sheet as the cover for the album Songes (1891). On a flat, light grey ground, the title in large letters appears alongside details of the edition and author. Typography alone carries the design here.
Description
A single light grey tone governs the sheet. At the top, the word SONGES in large, well-formed letters takes up broad space. Directly below is the note 30 Exemplaires. The lower section is filled by the artist's name, ODILON REDON, and the year 1891. Every pictorial addition is absent; typography alone draws the eye.
Context
The album Songes appeared in 1891 as a lithographic series with dreamlike, symbolist subjects. Only 30 copies were printed, suggesting an exclusive edition intended for collectors. Lithography was a common means for original prints in the late 19th century, and Redon used it eagerly for his fantastical inventions.
Impact
Because all figuration is missing and only lettering remains on a monochrome ground, the sheet feels calm and almost contemplative. The large letters give the cover a weighty presence and awaken curiosity about what follows in the album.
Technique
Made by stone lithography: the drawing is applied with greasy chalk to a limestone and then pulled from it. The impression was printed in an even light grey, without gradations or transitions. The precisely placed letters suggest a carefully worked printing plate.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)