Apollo's Chariot 1914

Odilon Redon conjured "Apollo's Chariot" out of oil and pastel, probably in the late 19th or early 20th century. It’s pure fantasy, a dreamscape on canvas. Look at how he builds the image with loose strokes and smudges of color. The horses aren’t sharply defined; they emerge from this hazy atmosphere. It’s like watching a thought take shape. The powdery texture of the pastel gives the surface a soft, almost ethereal quality. The colors, mostly blues, yellows and whites, blend into each other, creating a luminous effect, especially around the horses. Take a look at the lower portion, there’s these serpentine forms, maybe they represent repressed desires. And the chariot itself seems to burst forth from the darkness, ascending toward the light. Redon really captures the way our inner life is a mix of light and shadow. You see this kind of psychological landscape also in the work of Gustav Moreau, who shares with Redon a similar interest in Symbolism and mythology. I always think that art is about opening up possibilities. What does this image trigger in you?