The charcoal sketches and lithographs known as noirs defined the early career of Odilon Redon, a French artist born in Bordeaux in 1840. Before his shift toward vibrant oils and pastels in the 1890s, he focused on fantastical imagery, creating works that explored the intersection of internal psychological states and visual reality through dreamlike, often nightmarish, compositions.
Early Training and Influences
Born Bertrand Redon to a prosperous family, he adopted the name Odilon from his mother, Marie Guérin. His formal education included an unsuccessful attempt to train as an architect at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, though he briefly studied painting under Jean-Léon Gérôme in 1864. His technical foundation in printmaking and etching was established under the tutelage of Rodolphe Bresdin in Bordeaux, a skill set that became essential during his service in the Franco-Prussian War.
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Following the war, he moved to Paris and dedicated himself to charcoal and lithography. His 1879 album Dans le Rêve brought early attention to his work, but broader recognition arrived with the 1884 publication of Joris-Karl Huysmans' novel À rebours. The book featured a character who collected Redon's drawings, cementing his reputation among contemporary Symbolists. He later exhibited with the Impressionists in 1886 and participated in the Les XX exhibitions in Brussels.
Evolution toward Abstraction
After 1900, he ceased production of his noirs, transitioning to oil and pastel. This period saw a shift in subject matter, influenced by Hindu and Buddhist themes as well as Japonisme. His radical approach is evident in the 17 decorative panels commissioned by Baron Robert de Domecy in 1899 for the Château de Domecy-sur-le-Vault. These works, featuring floral and organic patterns on an endless horizon, signaled his move from ornamental art toward abstraction, anticipating future developments in Surrealism.
Personal Life and Legacy
At 40, he married Camille Falte, and the couple had one son, Arï Redon. Throughout his later life, his work was showcased in significant venues, and he was appointed a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1903. He continued his creative output until his death in 1916 in Paris, leaving behind a body of work that includes notable paintings such as The Birth of Venus, Les Yeux clos, and The Cyclops. He is buried in Bièvres.
Fast facts
- Born: 1840, Bordeaux, France
- Died: 1916, Paris, France
- Movement: Symbolism
- Awards: Knight of the Legion of Honour, 1903
- Notable Works: The Birth of Venus, Les Yeux clos, The Cyclops
- Burial Site: Bièvres
- Spouse: Camille Falte
- Son: Arï Redon
Questions readers ask
What were Redon's noirs?
The noirs were his early visionary works created almost exclusively in charcoal and lithography, typically rendered in shades of black.
Did Redon ever work as an architect?
No, although he studied drawing for architecture at his father's insistence, he failed to pass the entrance exams for the École des Beaux-Arts.
Achievements
- Knight of the Legion of Honour — 1903
- Notable work: The Birth of Venus
- Notable work: Les Yeux clos
- Notable work: The Cyclops
- Movement: Symbolism
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