He Raises the Bronze Urn, plate 4 of 10

Art Historical Context

Odilon Redon's *He Raises the Bronze Ur*, plate 4 from a series of 10 lithographs created in 1888, visitors into the dreamlike realm of French Symbolism. Redon, a pioneer of this late-19th-century movement, inspiration from literature, mythology, and the subconscious, crafting visions that blur reality and fantasy. This work, housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints Drawings department, captures a mysterious figure in a moment of ritualistic gesture, evoking biblical or apocalyptic themes amid swirling, ethereal forms. Masterfully executed as a lithograph in black ink on delicate ivory China paper—then laid down on ivory wove paper—Redon's technique shines through subtle gradations of tone. Lithography suited his "noirs" period perfectly, allowing greasy crayon marks to translate into velvety shadows and luminous highlights, mimicking charcoal drawings. At 27.4 × 19.6 cm, the intimate image size draws viewers close, heightening its hypnotic pull. This print exemplifies Redon's influence on modern art, bridging Romanticism and Surrealism. Produced during Paris's fin-de-siècle cultural ferment, it reflects a fascination with the unseen spiritual world, offering museumgoers a portal to the artist's profound imagination.

About the Artist

Odilon Redon · 1840–1916

Odilon Redon (1840-1916) was a French Symbolist painter, printmaker, and pastellist whose visionary art bridged the 19th-century Symbolist movement and 20th-century Surrealism. Born Bertrand Redon in Bordeaux on April 20, 1840, he earned the nickname "Odilon" from his mother Odile. His father, who made his fortune in the Louisiana slave trade, conceived Odilon in New Orleans before the family retu...