Odilon Redon

"Vase of Flowers" by Odilon Redon: A Journey into the Mystical and Symbolic Nature of Still Life

Odilon Redon (1840-1916) remains one of the most enigmatic and imaginative artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While his work traverses several genres and themes, including fantastical dreamscapes, mythological figures, and symbolic abstraction, his still-life paintings, particularly Vase of Flowers, reflect his ability to transform even the most ordinary subjects into profound explorations of beauty, symbolism, and emotion. This essay will delve into the artistic significance of Vase of Flowers, examining how it reflects Redon’s unique approach to still life, his deep interest in symbolism, his use of color, and how his broader philosophical outlook shaped this piece.

Background: Odilon Redon and His Artistic Evolution

Odilon Redon is often categorized as a Symbolist, a movement in the late 19th century that reacted against the naturalism and realism of artists like Gustave Courbet and Jean-François Millet. The Symbolists sought to represent not the visible world, but the invisible, the world of dreams, emotions, and ideas. Redon’s early career was dominated by his black-and-white charcoal drawings and lithographs, often referred to as his "noirs, " which featured fantastical, surreal subjects—eyeballs floating in space, disembodied heads, and grotesque creatures. These works delved deeply into the mysterious, spiritual, and often nightmarish realms of the subconscious, resonating with the Symbolist fascination with the mystical and the dreamlike.

However, as Redon transitioned into the later part of his career, his palette underwent a significant transformation. From the 1890s onward, he embraced the use of vibrant color, creating works that appeared almost to glow from within. His shift from monochromatic works to colorful pastels and oils marked a fundamental evolution in his artistic outlook, moving from the dark and introspective to the radiant and life-affirming. Vase of Flowers (created during this later period) exemplifies this shift, showcasing not only his mastery of color but also his ability to infuse traditional subjects with profound emotional and symbolic depth.

The Still Life Genre: Traditional vs. Redon’s Vision

Still-life painting, with its focus on inanimate objects—flowers, fruits, table settings—has been a staple of Western art for centuries. Traditionally, still-life works were often associated with material wealth and the fleeting nature of life, as represented by the concept of vanitas in 17th-century Dutch painting. Flowers, in particular, have long been used to symbolize both the beauty and transience of life, a theme that underscores much of still-life painting.

However, Redon’s approach to the still life was anything but traditional. In Vase of Flowers, Redon elevates a simple bouquet of flowers into a metaphysical exploration of color, form, and feeling. His flowers are not meticulously rendered botanical specimens as one might find in the works of Dutch masters like Jan Davidsz de Heem or Rachel Ruysch. Instead, they are dreamlike, ethereal, and at times abstracted, floating in a vibrant, glowing space that feels almost otherworldly. The vase, which grounds the composition, appears less as a physical object and more as a point of stability amid the swirling, radiant colors of the flowers above it.

The Role of Color in "Vase of Flowers"

One of the most striking features of Vase of Flowers is Redon’s use of color. In contrast to his earlier black-and-white lithographs, the painting explodes with vivid, saturated hues. Reds, yellows, blues, and greens intermingle, creating a kaleidoscopic effect that draws the viewer’s eye across the canvas. Redon’s flowers are not constrained by the naturalistic colors one might expect; instead, they seem to vibrate with an inner light, as if they are alive with some spiritual energy.

Redon once said, "I have often, as an exercise and in order to familiarize myself with the secrets of composition, set myself to reproduce the material aspect of flowers, but in a way that reflects my deepest feelings." In Vase of Flowers, this statement rings true. The flowers are not merely decorative objects; they are a medium through which Redon expresses his inner emotions and philosophical ideas. The vibrant colors are not just a feast for the eyes—they also serve to evoke feelings of joy, mystery, and reverence.

The glowing, almost supernatural quality of Redon’s color palette in Vase of Flowers can be linked to his interest in the symbolic and the spiritual. Color, for Redon, was not merely a tool for representing the external world but a means of conveying the inner realities of the soul. His flowers seem to radiate light, not from an external source, but from within themselves, suggesting that they are imbued with some mystical energy. This radiant quality aligns with the Symbolist movement's broader goal of representing unseen realities—dreams, emotions, and spiritual truths—through art.

Symbolism in "Vase of Flowers"

Symbolism was a core aspect of Redon’s art, and while Vase of Flowers may seem on the surface to be a simple still life, it is imbued with deeper symbolic meanings. Flowers have long been rich with symbolic associations: roses represent love, lilies purity, sunflowers devotion, and so on. However, in Redon’s work, the flowers do not seem to adhere to such specific symbolic meanings. Rather, they take on a more generalized symbolic role, representing the beauty, fragility, and mystery of life itself.

Redon’s choice to depict flowers, rather than the more fantastical subjects of his earlier works, can be seen as a reflection of his evolving interest in the natural world as a source of spiritual inspiration. Yet, even as he turned to more naturalistic subjects, he continued to infuse them with a sense of mystery and transcendence. The flowers in Vase of Flowers are not ordinary flowers; they are dream-flowers, infused with an otherworldly beauty that transcends their material form. This elevation of the ordinary to the extraordinary is a hallmark of Redon’s Symbolist approach.

Moreover, the flowers in Vase of Flowers can be seen as a metaphor for the creative process itself. Just as a flower grows from a seed and blossoms into something beautiful, so too does the artist’s vision unfold on the canvas. Redon’s use of color and form in this painting suggests a process of organic growth, with each flower representing a moment of creative revelation. The swirling, radiant colors reflect the fluidity and dynamism of the creative process, which, like the life cycle of a flower, is constantly evolving and changing.

The Influence of Literature and Philosophy on Redon’s Still Lifes

Redon was deeply influenced by literature and philosophy, particularly the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Baudelaire, and the philosopher Henri Bergson. These writers and thinkers shared Redon’s interest in the inner workings of the mind, the nature of perception, and the mysteries of existence. Bergson’s philosophy of élan vital, or vital force, which posits that all living things are animated by an internal, creative energy, resonates strongly with Redon’s depiction of flowers in Vase of Flowers. The flowers, in their vibrant, almost pulsating colors, seem to be animated by this vital force, radiating energy and life beyond their physical forms.

Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du Mal (The Flowers of Evil) may also have been an influence on Redon’s flower paintings. Baudelaire used the symbol of the flower as a metaphor for the duality of beauty and decay, a theme that runs through much of Redon’s work. In Vase of Flowers, the flowers are undeniably beautiful, but there is also a sense of fragility and impermanence, as if they are on the verge of wilting. This tension between beauty and transience is a central theme in both Baudelaire’s poetry and Redon’s art.

The Spiritual and Mystical Dimensions of Redon’s Work

Throughout his career, Redon was fascinated by the idea of the spiritual and the mystical. His early work, with its eerie, dreamlike imagery, often evokes a sense of the uncanny or the otherworldly. In his later, more colorful works like Vase of Flowers, this sense of the mystical remains, though it takes on a more uplifting, life-affirming quality.

The radiant colors and ethereal forms of Vase of Flowers suggest a connection to the divine or the transcendent. The flowers, in their glowing hues, seem to exist in a space beyond the material world, as if they are manifestations of some higher reality. This aligns with Redon’s belief that art should not merely imitate the external world but should seek to express the deeper truths of existence.

Redon was influenced by various spiritual and philosophical traditions, including Eastern mysticism, Christianity, and Theosophy. These influences are evident in his later works, which often explore themes of light, vision, and transcendence. In Vase of Flowers, the flowers can be seen as symbols of spiritual awakening or enlightenment, their radiant colors representing the light of divine knowledge.

 

 

Odilon Redon | Vase of Flowers (Pink Background) | The Metropolitan Museum of Art (metmuseum.org)