Decorative Panel 1902

Odilon Redon made this Decorative Panel as an all-over field of blossoming colour that seems to float across the surface. It's a bit like he’s scattering these tiny floral explosions, letting the painting bloom into being. Looking closely, you can almost feel the texture of the paint. Some areas seem thin, almost transparent, while others have thicker dabs of colour, particularly in the clusters of flowers at the lower left, where the petals are built up layer by layer, giving them a real sense of depth and presence. Imagine Redon, with his brush, carefully placing each dab, each tiny mark contributing to the overall buzz. See how the yellows and blues play off each other. There's a push and pull, a visual vibration that keeps your eye moving. There’s something about this piece that reminds me of Bonnard, but with a stranger, more dreamlike quality. Both artists share a love for colour, but Redon takes it to a more ethereal, almost otherworldly place. Like he's painting the feeling of flowers rather than their literal form. It’s a kind of beautiful ambiguity, you know?