Madame Arthur Fontaine 1901

Odilon Redon made this dreamy portrait of Madame Arthur Fontaine with pastel on paper. Redon's mark-making feels so intuitive, almost like he's letting the colors blend and breathe into each other. There's a real softness in the way he builds up the image, using layers of delicate hues to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. It's like he's more interested in capturing a feeling or a mood than in rendering every detail perfectly. Look at the way the yellow of her dress seems to glow, almost as if it's radiating light. And notice how the textures in the flowers and the lace collar create a tactile sense of richness. For me, it's the way Redon uses color and texture to evoke a sense of interiority, as if we're glimpsing not just Madame Fontaine's likeness but also her inner world. Redon was doing something that felt similar to what the Nabis were up to, finding inspiration from artists like Gauguin and embracing art as a form of personal expression. It’s all about embracing ambiguity and trusting in the power of suggestion.