A Long Chrysalis, the Color of Blood, plate 2 of 6 1889

Odilon Redon made this lithograph, "A Long Chrysalis, the Color of Blood", in the late 19th century. It is printed in black ink on chine, a thin, delicate paper. The image is rich in the velvety blacks and greys that are characteristic of lithography. It's created by drawing on a stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon, then treating the surface so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas. This method allows for nuanced tonal gradations, which we see here in the ethereal glow emanating from the chrysalis. Redon was deeply engaged with the symbolist movement, exploring dreamlike and often unsettling imagery. The laborious process of lithography, with its dependence on skilled craftsmanship, seems an interesting counterpoint to the fantastical subject matter, bridging the industrial age with the realm of imagination. This piece, like much of his work, asks us to consider the relationship between the tangible world and the subconscious. It reminds us that even in the most technically demanding processes, there is room for boundless creativity.