The Druidess 1893

Odilon Redon created "The Druidess" with pastel on paper at an unknown date. It is a piece that encapsulates Redon’s interest in the mystical and the symbolic, reflecting the broader cultural fascination with spirituality that emerged in France at the end of the 19th century. Redon's choice of subject links back to a romanticized vision of pre-Christian Europe. The image creates meaning through visual codes that reference ancient Celtic religious practices. During this period there was a growing scholarly and popular interest in non-Christian cultures, and a rise in esotericism which can be understood as a rejection of mainstream positivist science. It might be worth investigating the history of collections and displays of artifacts of non-western cultures in French museums to find out more. "The Druidess" thus offers a window onto the cultural and intellectual landscape of the late 19th century. As historians, we use resources like period publications, exhibition catalogues, and artist's writings to better understand the social and institutional contexts that shape artistic production and reception.