Mlle. Juliette Dodu 1904

Odilon Redon drew this portrait of Mlle. Juliette Dodu in 1906. Imagine him, charcoal in hand, circling and building up tone to capture her profile. I love how Redon suggests form with these scribbled, broken lines. See how he defines the curve of her cheek and the soft waves of her hair? It’s like he's coaxing her likeness out of the paper. He’s not trying to be perfect, but rather capture something fleeting and essential. It's not just about what she looks like, but about the feeling she evokes. Think of other artists who have explored similar territories, like the loose, suggestive portraits of Manet or Degas. There is an ongoing conversation, an exchange of ideas that transcends time. We are reminded that making art is not about certainty, but about embracing the unknown, and engaging with each other.