Young Woman in Profile 1910

Curator: This drawing, titled "Young Woman in Profile," was created by Odilon Redon around 1910 using pencil, pastel and charcoal. Editor: There's a quiet introspection about it. The muted tones lend it a sort of melancholy grace, wouldn't you agree? It almost feels like a whisper from the past. Curator: Absolutely. Redon was deeply involved in Symbolist circles, and he employed these mixed media to make readily accessible art. By combining chalk and pastel, which are easy to blend, with charcoal and pencil, whose marks are more easily preserved and harder, respectively, Redon plays with traditional artistic labor divisions. He is doing preparatory drawing, a preservationist action, as well as atmospheric tonal blending often associated with more commercial work in illustration. Editor: You know, seeing it within that Symbolist context makes me think about how they were wrestling with representing inner emotional states. The young woman’s averted gaze and the overall softness definitely evoke a sense of interiority. Is this a commentary on girlhood itself? How social conditions require girls and young women to conceal themselves, their ambitions and desires? Curator: Precisely! It speaks volumes, doesn’t it? We could consider how Redon’s artistic process reflected the broader social contexts of his time, from gender dynamics to labor itself. By blending art forms and levels, and also using readily available media, Redon brings portraiture and figure art to more of the working and merchant classes. Editor: Considering it was created during a time of burgeoning feminist movements adds another layer. This era was characterized by women and girls increasingly challenging gender norms, fighting for suffrage, and stepping into public life more boldly than ever before. Curator: The tension is palpable! It resonates today, encouraging viewers to question prevailing narratives about identity and purpose. Editor: Indeed. Ultimately, this portrait becomes an intimate glimpse into the complexities of girlhood at a crucial time of social transformation. Curator: I see it now! That social context deepens how I understand Redon's approach to his chosen material.