Tête De Christ 1895

Odilon Redon made this “Tête De Christ” using pastel on paper. Pastel is pure powdered pigment, rolled into sticks. It offers a directness of application, almost like drawing with pure color. Redon's mastery is evident in the way he coaxes luminosity from the humble material, creating a halo effect around the head of Christ. The powdery texture lends itself well to creating an ethereal, dreamlike quality. The choice of pastel, as opposed to oil paint, is significant. It suggests a deliberate move away from the established traditions of academic painting, towards a more intimate, personal mode of expression. Consider the work involved in making pastels, the mining and grinding of minerals to create pigment. Then imagine Redon, layering these colors to build up the image, stroke by stroke. In the end, it’s the marriage of material, process, and vision that allows us to appreciate the profound depth of this seemingly simple image.