Apollo's Chariot 1909

Odilon Redon’s ‘Apollo’s Chariot’ presents us with a mythological scene rendered in dreamlike haziness. Painted in France, most likely in the late 19th or early 20th century, it reflects a turn away from academic realism towards subjective experience. We see Apollo, god of light and reason, driving his chariot across the sky. Yet, rather than a triumphant display of classical heroism, Redon gives us an ethereal vision, a floating spectacle more aligned with the symbolist movement. This was a time when artists questioned institutional norms and explored realms beyond the visible world. To truly understand this work, we can delve into the cultural context of the symbolist movement, looking at its manifestos, literary influences, and the prevailing social anxieties. Redon's Apollo is not just a god, but an emblem of the shifting artistic and intellectual landscape of his time.