Perversité 1891

Editor: Here we have Odilon Redon’s "Perversité" from 1891, an etching showing a bust emerging from darkness. It feels quite melancholic to me; the figure's downcast gaze adds to that sense. How do you interpret the social and cultural meaning behind such a piece? Curator: Well, the title itself, "Perversité," hints at the social anxieties swirling around at the fin de siècle. Redon was working in a time of immense societal upheaval and anxieties, and his works often explore themes of the subconscious and the darker aspects of human nature. Does the darkness surrounding the bust remind you of any societal phenomena? Editor: Possibly the growing uncertainty and challenges to traditional values that were occurring back then? Curator: Exactly. Redon's art, like much Symbolist work, sought to express those internal states rather than depicting the external world. The deliberate use of shadow and the androgynous nature of the figure serve to unsettle the viewer, challenging conventional notions of beauty and morality which were largely controlled and propagated by institutions of the time. What do you think the choice of monochrome etching adds to the work's message? Editor: It amplifies that sense of unease. Color might soften the blow, but the stark blacks and whites feel quite blunt and almost confrontational. Curator: Indeed. Printmaking democratized art, allowing for wider dissemination of images that challenged established social norms, therefore causing more debate. Redon’s pieces entered the cultural conversation, provoking debate in journals and cafes and pushing the boundaries of acceptable imagery. Editor: It's fascinating how Redon uses darkness to expose not just inner turmoil, but wider societal anxieties through distribution. Thanks! Curator: And for me, it is helpful to be reminded of the emotional connection we have to such imagery that makes these older pieces timeless in sentiment.