"And I, John, saw these things, and heard them." 1899

Curator: At Harvard Art Museums, we find Odilon Redon's lithograph, "And I, John, saw these things, and heard them." Editor: There’s a stark vulnerability in this image, isn’t there? The downward gaze, the clasped hands—it’s all so delicately rendered with the chine collé. Curator: Redon’s art, particularly his work in black and white, often delves into themes of spirituality and the inner life, reflecting the fin-de-siècle fascination with mysticism. Editor: Yes, and the hatching creates an almost dreamlike texture, obscuring the figure. It suggests a vision, not a clear depiction. Curator: The reference to John perhaps grounds it in religious tradition, but Redon was more interested in evoking emotion than illustrating scripture. The politics of doubt, as it were. Editor: I see it! It’s as if the very act of seeing and hearing is being questioned through the distortion and ambiguity of the form. Curator: Exactly. Editor: I leave this with a sense of quiet contemplation. Curator: As do I, contemplating the power of suggestion and the role of faith.