Armor 1891

Editor: Here we have "Armor," a drawing created with charcoal, graphite, and pastel by Odilon Redon in 1891. It feels… intensely introspective, maybe even a bit claustrophobic. I'm struck by the contrast between the delicate lines of the face and the severe, almost spiky, darkness enveloping it. What do you make of it? Curator: Claustrophobic is spot on. I think Redon is showing us how our inner world can become a prison, or perhaps a shield. The "armor" isn’t protective so much as suffocating. Notice the small hints of almost botanical forms hovering behind the figure. Like dreams barely clinging to consciousness. What are those to you? Fleeting thoughts? Lost potentials? I like to imagine a past self there, trapped in the present moment by this protective gear. The darkness obscures the identity. Editor: They could be either, really! The botanical aspect brings forth new imagery... I'm almost reminded of strange microorganisms when seen in contrast with the harsh armour. That comparison almost flips it to represent sickness? Curator: Sickness – that’s an interesting read! Almost a viral motif, an invasion of sorts, twisting from those initial dreamlike images. It brings an urgent dynamism to the piece, don’t you think? This armour now no longer represents this internal stifling, but possibly something far greater. An almost cosmic anxiety perhaps. How might viewing this drawing change now knowing a touch more of his Symbolist practices? Editor: Definitely more anxious! The added Symbolist context makes it feel less like a personal struggle and more like a broader commentary on the human condition. I find Redon really made these works that leave you thinking. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure! These charcoal noirs offer glimpses into the veiled realities we try so hard to articulate in waking life. They beckon to that same artistic and emotive quest we feel on the most fundamental of levels. It has been wonderful untangling this all together.