The Pot of Geraniums 1910

Odilon Redon made this painting of geraniums in a pot with oil on canvas. The colors aren't naturalistic, but heightened, almost like a memory of geraniums. Looking at the surface, I see Redon has built up layers of paint to give the work a hazy, dreamy feel. It's not about rendering every detail perfectly, but about capturing the essence of the subject. See how the pinkish purple background has this smeared quality, and contrasts with the bright oranges of the flowers. I'm drawn to the way he's handled the leaves too, they're not just green, there are also moments of yellow in there. Overall, the painting has a kind of quiet intensity, a feeling that comes through the strange colour combinations, and the way the brushstrokes are present on the canvas. It reminds me a little of the work of Gustav Moreau, where the subject matter is a vehicle to explore the artists inner world. It's a reminder that art doesn't need to be realistic to be powerful.