Orpheus c. 1903 - 1910

Odilon Redon painted this haunting pastel work, “Orpheus”, where we see the severed head of Orpheus and his lyre resting in a landscape. The head, a potent symbol, evokes themes of sacrifice and renewal found throughout history, from John the Baptist to Holofernes. Here, the head doesn't represent death as much as the continuation of Orpheus's song beyond his physical form. It echoes the ancient belief that the head is the seat of consciousness and memory. Note how the lyre lies silent beside him, yet its presence suggests that music and poetry endure, even in death. We see this motif re-emerge in later works. Think of the romantic poets, such as Shelley and Keats, who frequently used the lyre as an emblem of artistic inspiration and the transcendent power of beauty. In the collective psyche, the lyre becomes an instrument of longing. The power of this image engages us on a deep, subconscious level. Though separated from the body, the head and the lyre represent the enduring legacy of art and the human spirit.