Portrait of A.M.L. Bonger-van der Linden
1905
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
3.3; 4.2; 72.5; 59.5
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
height 72.5 cm x width 59.5 cm x thickness 3.3 cm
Art Historical Context
Odilon Redon's *Portrait of A.M.L Bonger-van der Linden (1905) is a luminous oil-on-canvas work measuring 72.5 x 59.5 cm, capturing the sitter in an intimate half-length format. Created late in the French Symbolist's career, it exemplifies Redon's shift from his earlier monochromatic drawings and fantastical visions to vibrant, atmospheric oils. By 1905, Redon had embraced color with a dreamlike intensity, realism with subtle mysticism. This portrait showcases Redon's mastery of soft lighting and delicate brushwork, where diffused hues create a sense of ethereal presence. The oil medium allowed him to layer translucent glazes, evoking emotional depth and psychological nuance—hallmarks of Symbolism's focus on inner worlds over literal representation. A.M.L. Bonger-van der Linden, depicted with poised elegance, reflects the refined portraiture of the Belle Époque, bridging personal intimacy with artistic innovation. Housed in Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, the painting highlights Redon's influence on modern art, bridging 19th-century Symbolism and emerging modernism. Visitors will appreciate its quiet power, inviting contemplation of identity and perception in a rapidly changing world.
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...