Le Sphynx...mon regard que rien ne peut devier, demeure tendu a travers les choses sur un horizon inaccessible. La Chimere: Moi,Je suis legere et joyeuse (The Sphinx: "My gaze, which nothing can deflect, passes through the things and remains fixed on an inaccessible horizon." The Chimera: "I am weightless and joyful") 1889

Curator: Odilon Redon’s 1889 lithograph, "Le Sphynx…mon regard que rien ne peut devier, demeure tendu a travers les choses sur un horizon inaccessible. La Chimere: Moi,Je suis legere et joyeuse," presents us with a fascinating dialogue between two iconic mythical figures. Editor: My first thought is just how heavy the Chimera feels, visually. The mass of darkness looming over the Sphinx creates a striking contrast in weight and presence. Curator: Indeed, Redon masterfully plays with contrasting concepts. The Sphinx, rigidly posed, embodies a fixed gaze and unattainable aspirations, reflecting anxieties surrounding immutable identities. In contrast, the Chimera exudes an airy lightness, evoking an intersectional celebration of joy and freedom. Editor: Looking closer, the material execution is interesting. It is an amazing display of lithographic technique! The layering of tones and the sheer density of blacks—that Chimera is built from such labor! And that is meant to show the viewer the difference between real things and not. Curator: And note how Redon, a key figure in the Symbolist movement, uses mythological archetypes to explore inner psychological states and the complexities of human identity. Editor: Symbolism is more to do with art and its impact on economy and value systems! A material read situates this work within the socio-economic context of the late 19th century, highlighting tensions between traditional power structures—the Sphinx as empire—and emerging counter-narratives, what do we get? The lithograph's mass production allows for widespread dissemination of its message! Curator: I read it more that the "message" engages with contemporary philosophical currents—exploring themes of existentialism, gender fluidity, and cultural resistance in the face of colonialism through the image of an Egyptian myth and another made in Greece and brought over. Editor: It certainly provokes discussion, right, as the way the print was constructed tells its own tale. Thanks for joining me today! Curator: A wonderful exploration, really allowing us to think about the impact it can make for a conversation to bloom.