The Druidess 1893

Odilon Redon made this pastel drawing titled 'The Druidess' sometime in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. Redon worked in France during a period when artists were increasingly interested in exploring spiritualism, the occult, and other non-Christian religions. Though a contemporary might not have known this, druids were members of the high-ranking professional class in ancient Celtic cultures. This class included religious leaders, legal professionals, and medical professionals. By the late 1800s, a renewed interest in Celtic spirituality, particularly in Britain and France, led to the founding of neo-druid orders. Redon's subject may not have literally been a druid, but she certainly embodies the mystical and spiritual concerns of Redon's cultural milieu. Art historians examine the cultural context in which a work of art was made to better understand the meanings and intentions it embodies. Primary source documents and period scholarship can help us understand the social and institutional context of art.