Two Young Girls among the Flowers 1912

Editor: We’re looking at “Two Young Girls among the Flowers,” an oil painting by Odilon Redon from 1912. There’s something so dreamy and melancholic about the faces and the hazy rendering of the blooms. What do you make of this piece? Curator: Indeed. What first strikes me are the faces turned away. Notice how one girl gazes inward, almost disappearing into the floral arrangement. It evokes a sense of secrecy and inner life, which flowers often represent, their symbolism rich across cultures. Have you noticed how the flowers, particularly that large red one, seems to have a face itself? Editor: I do see it! Almost like a watchful eye. So are you saying the girls and flowers are connected somehow through symbolism? Curator: Precisely. Redon’s works often suggest hidden psychological landscapes. Flowers are traditionally associated with fragility and fleeting beauty, so these girls might represent innocence confronting life's transience. The averted gazes are significant. Are they hiding something, or perhaps protecting something sacred within themselves? Editor: That makes me think of the Pre-Raphaelites and their obsession with beauty and mortality, but with a touch of the subconscious thrown in. It feels so personal. Curator: Exactly! It’s post-impressionist, but he imbues his art with personal, sometimes unsettling, symbols. Redon seems to be asking: what lies beneath the surface of beauty, especially in the springtime of life? Editor: I see it now, this painting is a quiet invitation into an introspective world, blurring the lines between nature and our inner selves. Thanks for making that connection so vivid! Curator: It’s fascinating how symbols accumulate meaning over time and Redon masterfully captures that!