There Were Also Embryonic Beings

There Were Also Embryonic Beings

Odilon Redon, 1885

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Artist: Odilon Redon (French, 1840–1916)
Medium: Lithograph on China paper laid on wove paper
Size: Image: 23.8 x 20 cm (9 3/8 x 7 7/8 in.)
Culture: France, 19th century
Museum: Cleveland Museum of Art
Rights: CC0 — no rights reserved

This series is one of many that Odilon Redon created throughout his career. Nearly two-thirds of his lithographs took the form of portfolios—prints connected conceptually by a theme or narrative and physically by a folder or binding. Such works were often dispersed over time, but Cleveland was fortunate to acquire several complete sets with their original covers during the 1920s. Dating from Redon’s early experimentation with lithography, Homage to Goya was intended as a tribute to 18th-century Spanish master Francisco de Goya, whose interest in dreams and the subconscious influenced Redon. The six seemingly unrelated images celebrate Goya’s ambiguity and collectively suggest the introspection and isolation of artistic practice.

More by Odilon Redon

Baronne de Domecy

Baronne de Domecy

Odilon Redon, about 1900

Vision- vase of flowers

Vision- vase of flowers

Odilon Redon, 1900

Les Anemones (Still Life with Anemones)

Les Anemones (Still Life with Anemones)

Odilon Redon, c. 1900–10

Orpheus

Odilon Redon, c. 1903–10

Evocation of Roussel

Evocation of Roussel

Odilon Redon, c. 1912

Flower Clouds

Odilon Redon, c. 1903

Large Vase with Flowers

Large Vase with Flowers

Odilon Redon, c. 1912

Le pavot noir

Vase of Flowers

Vase of Flowers

Odilon Redon, 1916

Wildflowers

Odilon Redon, c. 1905

Feldblumen

Odilon Redon, 1900s

Bouquet of Flowers

Bouquet of Flowers

Odilon Redon, ca. 1900–1905

Visually similar

Een lange pop de kleur van bloed

Een lange pop de kleur van bloed

Odilon Redon, 1889

Le Buddha

Odilon Redon, 1895

Precarious Glimmering, a Head Suspended from Infinity, plate 3 of 6

Precarious Glimmering, a Head Suspended from Infinity, plate 3 of 6

Odilon Redon, 1891

The Infinite Search, from Night

The Infinite Search, from Night

Odilon Redon, 1886

Ontluiking

Odilon Redon, 1879

Le souffle qui conduit les étres est aussi dans les sphères

Le souffle qui conduit les étres est aussi dans les sphères

Odilon Redon, 1882

Le Fleur du marécage une tête humaine et triste

Le Fleur du marécage une tête humaine et triste

Odilon Redon, 1885

Visioen

Odilon Redon, 1879

Lueur precaire, une tete a l'infini suspendue(Precarious glimmering, a head suspended

Lueur precaire, une tete a l'infini suspendue(Precarious glimmering, a head suspended

Odilon Redon, 1891

Through an Opening in the Wall, a Skull Appeared, plate 1 from Edmond Picard's Le Jure

Through an Opening in the Wall, a Skull Appeared, plate 1 from Edmond Picard's Le Jure

Odilon Redon, 1887

Et la-bas l'idole astrale, l'Apotheose (And beyond, the star idol, the apotheosis)

Et la-bas l'idole astrale, l'Apotheose (And beyond, the star idol, the apotheosis)

Odilon Redon, 1891

Precarious Glimmering, a Head Suspended from Infinity, plate 3 of 6

Precarious Glimmering, a Head Suspended from Infinity, plate 3 of 6

Odilon Redon, 1891