Odilon Redon: Prince of Dreams, 1840-1916

by et al. Douglas W. Druick, Douglas W. Druick (Editor)

The work of French Symbolist painter Odilon Redon has long been seen as a direct link between the 19th century and the development of modern art. Now Douglas W. Druick, Searle curator of European paintings at The Art Institute of Chicago, has gathered more than 500 color and black-and-white reproductions of the artist's well-known and more obscure works.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

464 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1994

Reviews

[Frank McAdam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike many other art books, Odilon Redon: Prince of Dreams was not published as a catalog intended to accompany an exhibit. Perhaps for that reason it is much more comprehensive than most I've read. Containing essays by a number of authors, the book traces Redon's development as an artist from his childhood drawing lessons through his later years when he grew in stature to become one of the most important artists of the Symbolist movement.

The best essays are those written by Douglas W. Druick together with Peter Kort Zegers that trace the artist's biography before 1900. Other chapters of interest are "Redon and the Transformation of the Symbolist Aesthetic" by Maryanne Stevens and "Redon's Spiritualism and the Rise of Mysticism" by Fred Leeman. On the other hand, while the two essays dealing with "Redon and the Marketplace" by Kevin Sharp might be of value to collectors, they are of little interest to general readers. By far the most useful chapter to those who themselves practice the visual arts, and one I wish more art books contained, was that dealing with the materials actually used by Redon in his work. Entitled "Beneath the Surface" and written by Harriet K. Stratis, it contains a fairly exhaustive study of the papers and art supplies available in the late nineteenth century as well as the manner in which they were employed by the artist. Such an analysis is especially important in the case of Redon because he worked in such a wide range of genres, from drawings and pastels to etchings and lithographs.

[Peter Gooch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quality of the plates is good. Comprehensive text. Does not focus on the later, more colorful work, but does catalogue the noir drawings and prints. The famous flower still lifes are not given sufficient play.

[Juli Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and comprehensive.

[EIJANDOLUM · Rating 5 out of 5]

And the black angel is my shadow.

[Mills College Library]

759.4 R319 1994