Profil de femme à droite 

Odilon Redon rendered this charcoal drawing, Profil de femme à droite. At first glance, the woman's head covering signals modesty and restraint, perhaps echoing the veils of Renaissance Madonnas, symbols of purity and solemnity. Yet, the flowers near the woman's chest introduce a subtle, earthly contrast. The presence of floral motifs can be traced back to ancient fertility rites, resurfacing in Botticelli's "Primavera," where flowers burst forth, symbolizing renewal and life. Redon uses flowers to perhaps suggest the internal life of the woman, an interiority of dreams and untapped potential. The woman's serene profile, juxtaposed with these symbols, prompts us to consider the complex dance between inner life and outward presentation. Like a recurring dream, such images remind us of the timeless human struggle to reconcile the ideal with the real, the sacred with the profane.