Vase of Flowers 1908

Odilon Redon made this Vase of Flowers using pastel crayons, a medium that had been around for centuries but was enjoying a resurgence at the turn of the 20th Century. In France at that time, the Salon system and the Académie des Beaux-Arts still held considerable sway, favouring traditional techniques and subject matter. Yet, Redon aligned himself with the Symbolist movement, rejecting realism in favour of dreamlike and imaginative imagery. It’s important to remember that floral still lifes were a well-established genre, often associated with academic art. Redon’s choice to work in pastel, with its soft, hazy effects, departs from the crispness and precision typically seen in Salon paintings. By embracing the non-traditional and exploring the realm of subjective experience, Redon challenged the prevailing artistic norms of his time. Further research into the Symbolist movement and the Salon system can shed light on the social and institutional context of Redon’s work.