Apollonius 1896 - 1900

Odilon Redon created 'Apollonius' with charcoal and pencil on paper. The artwork is dominated by the figure’s somber, introspective gaze, achieved through Redon's delicate and precise linework. The shading, particularly around the hair and shoulder, suggests a play of light that heightens the figure's pensive mood. Redon employs a semiotic system of visual codes, inviting viewers to consider Apollonius not just as a representation of a man, but as a symbol of intellect and contemplation. The figure’s averted gaze destabilizes conventional portraiture, challenging its capacity to convey fixed meanings. This creates an intriguing paradox. The work exists within the genre of portraiture, yet undermines its representational function. Notice the artist’s distinctive use of chiaroscuro and the contrasting values that create depth. Redon uses Apollonius as a formal device, and a cultural symbol, to question and renegotiate the boundaries of representation itself.