And Another Angel Came Out of the Temple Which is in Heaven, and He Also Having a Sharp Sickle, plate 7 of 12 1899

Curator: Before us is a lithograph by Odilon Redon, dating to 1899. Its full title is "And Another Angel Came Out of the Temple Which is in Heaven, and He Also Having a Sharp Sickle." It’s currently held at The Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: There’s an immediate solemnity. The gray scale, the heavy strokes of ink… It projects a mood of hushed anticipation, almost dread. A robed figure with a sickle faces what seems like a looming, abstract monument. Curator: Indeed. The lithographic process would have allowed Redon to explore a wide range of tonal variations. This would likely have begun with the direct application of greasy materials onto a lithographic stone, manipulated with careful chemical processes and several proofs until he got this finished product. There’s a tangible sense of layering and texture. Editor: It’s fascinating how he merges religious and surreal imagery. Angels, of course, traditionally symbolize divine intervention. But what's curious is the sharp sickle, almost a harbinger of unavoidable destiny or harvest. The figure looks away from us; he cannot see. Curator: Given Redon’s Symbolist leanings, he most probably was aiming to access deeper emotional truths and subjective experience. Lithography provided him with means to reproduce work which may feel unique at first viewing. There is clear craft and an inherent repeatability. The availability to a larger market also must be seen as impacting both him and culture at large. Editor: Absolutely. The sickle isn’t just a tool; it’s a powerful symbol of mortality, of the reaping of souls. This connects to artistic depictions of angelic beings over centuries across numerous civilizations and cultural moments. Curator: The mass production of works also allowed wider circles access. The shift into production using drawings changed artwork and its meanings forever. Editor: Well, considering Redon's piece in relation to the mass market truly shows its effect, on symbolism. An angel is no longer simply divine; here, the symbolic weight takes on multiple layers of psychological weight and historical associations through mass mediums. Curator: This image does challenge what art could be. Its mass reproduction allowed audiences everywhere to ponder life and morality with new ways of image production. Editor: Reflecting upon the interplay of these visual components reminds us of their long symbolic tradition through history.