Le Silence 

Odilon Redon made 'Le Silence' in France using pastel and charcoal, media closely associated with the artistic establishment of his time. The closed eyes and hand covering the mouth suggest a figure deep in thought or actively suppressing speech, which might be a quiet protest against the rigid social norms of late 19th-century France. Redon was working at a time when academic art was being challenged by new, more experimental forms of expression. The title itself, 'Silence,' evokes questions about who has the power to speak and who is silenced, and perhaps alludes to the restricted role of women in public life. Redon’s choice to work outside the established genres of history painting might be seen as a critique of the art world, dominated as it was by state institutions like the Académie des Beaux-Arts. By examining exhibition records, artists’ letters, and critical reviews from the period, we can begin to understand 'Le Silence' not just as a depiction of an individual, but as a reflection on the social and artistic constraints of Redon’s time.