Parsifal 1912

Odilon Redon made this dreamlike pastel drawing titled 'Parsifal' sometime in the late 19th century. Look at the way he has laid down these marks, these strokes, almost like a form of tonal architecture. Was he trying to capture something beyond the visible? I imagine Redon, in his studio, probably grappling with these questions, pushing the boundaries of representation. The surface is almost velvety, isn't it? See how those hazy blues and earthy browns create this otherworldly atmosphere. And that central figure! Those colors really give him this melancholic presence. I wonder if Redon was trying to convey a sense of spiritual longing. It makes me think of other symbolist artists, like Moreau or Puvis de Chavannes, who were also exploring these mystical themes in their work. Artists are always in conversation, you know, sharing ideas across time. Each one inspiring the next to see the world in a new way.