Everywhere eyeballs are aflame 1888

Odilon Redon etched "Everywhere, eyeballs are aflame" to express the psychological weight of the symbol of the eye around the turn of the century. Here, a disembodied eye dominates the composition. The mountain below suggests an origin, a grounding, yet the eye’s detachment speaks to themes of surveillance and inner vision. Consider how the eye, as a symbol, transcends cultures. From the Eye of Providence in Renaissance art to ancient Egyptian protective symbols, it represents omniscience and insight. The ‘evil eye’ motif, found in many cultures, reminds us of the gaze's potential for harm, reflecting anxieties about envy and malevolence. Redon’s flaming eye pulses with an uncanny energy, evoking the psychoanalytic concept of the gaze and our subconscious fears and desires. This image speaks to the cyclical nature of symbols, their power to resurface, and their evolution through history. Redon taps into our collective memory, reminding us that symbols, like the eye, are never truly still. They watch, judge, and reflect our deepest selves across time.