I plunged into solitude. I dwelt in the tree behind me. (plate 9) 1896

Odilon Redon created this lithograph, “I plunged into solitude. I dwelt in the tree behind me,” a plate from the series “The Temptation of Saint Anthony” around 1896. This image encapsulates Redon's Symbolist exploration of inner states, turning away from the industrialized world and seeking refuge in nature. Here, the dense, almost claustrophobic rendering of the tree speaks to the Symbolist aesthetic prominent in France at the end of the 19th century, a time when artists and writers were deeply concerned with spirituality and the human psyche. Redon's choice of lithography, with its rich blacks and textured surfaces, enhances the dreamlike quality, drawing viewers into a space of introspection. The tree, a common symbol, here takes on a psychological dimension, offering both shelter and a confrontation with the self. To understand Redon fully, one might explore the writings of Symbolist poets like Mallarmé, or the philosophical works of Schopenhauer, all of which provide context to the image.