Puis je vis, dans la main droite de celui quietait assis sur le trone, un livre ecritdedans et dehors, scelle de sept sceaux (And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals )

Art Historical Context

Odilon Redon's haunting lithograph *Puis je vis, dans main droite de celui qui assis sur le trône un livre écrit dedans et, scellé de sept sceaux* (1899) draws directly from the Book of Revelation in the, capturing the visionary moment when John beholds a mysterious scroll sealed with seven seals in the hand of the divine figure on the throne. Created at the turn of the century, this print reflects Redon's deep fascination with mysticism and the Apocalypse, part of his acclaimed series *L'Apocalypse de Saint Jean*. As a leading Symbolist artist, Redon transformed biblical prophecy into ethereal, dreamlike visions, blending spiritual ecstasy with subtle psychological depth. Rendered in lithography—a medium Redon mastered for its velvety textures and tonal gradations—the work evokes an otherworldly glow through soft, diffused lines and shadowy forms. This technique allowed him to convey the ineffable, bridging the seen and unseen realms that defined Symbolism's rejection of naturalism in favor of inner truths. The sealed book symbolizes divine secrets awaiting revelation, a motif that resonated in fin-de-siècle France amid spiritual and cultural upheavals. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Rosenwald Collection, this print exemplifies Redon's printmaking legacy, where he produced intimate, visionary works that influenced modern surrealism. Visitors are invited to ponder its apocalyptic mystery, a timeless meditation on faith, fate, and the unseen forces shaping our 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...