Portrait of Simone Fayet 1907

Odilon Redon made this portrait of Simone Fayet using pastel, a medium that sits between drawing and painting. Redon's use of pastel creates a soft, dreamlike effect. The medium itself, ground pigment held together with a binder, allows for a directness of application. You can see how Redon layers strokes of color, building up tone and texture. This isn't about slick illusionism; the surface remains matte, porous, almost like a fresco. The hazy background, too, evokes a world of fantasy. Pastel was embraced by many artists outside the traditional academy, precisely because it allowed for immediacy and intimacy. It lent itself to portraiture, where a fleeting impression was as valued as careful likeness. Redon fully explored that potential, emphasizing mood and feeling through his sensitive handling of a humble material.