And There Fell a Great Star From Heaven, Burning as it Were a Lamp, plate 5 of 12 1899

Editor: We're looking at "And There Fell a Great Star From Heaven, Burning as it Were a Lamp," a lithograph by Odilon Redon, created in 1899. I'm immediately struck by how unsettling it is—the sharp contrast of light and shadow creates this eerie, dreamlike atmosphere. What do you make of this, particularly in light of the Symbolist movement? Curator: Oh, Redon. A delicious plunge into the depths of the subconscious! You nailed it – the dreamlike quality is key. The Symbolists were all about rejecting realism and tapping into inner visions. Here, the falling star isn't just an astronomical event; it's a symbol. Perhaps a fallen ideal, a disruptive force, or even divine judgment, depending on how biblical you’re feeling today! The shadowy figures lurking about only amplify that unsettling mood you picked up on. Notice how they’re almost insect-like? Editor: Yes, that's it! It’s as though the creatures embody a dark transformation or an impending doom. Given Redon’s broader interest in the apocalypse, how does this plate fit in? Curator: Exactly! The entire series draws on the Book of Revelation, and this plate is pure visual poetry in the face of cataclysm. Redon masterfully uses abstraction here; everything’s suggestive rather than literal. He makes us *feel* the terror and wonder of the event rather than just showing us. And this ties beautifully into that whole Symbolist idea of evoking emotions and inner states. What about you – did you notice anything specific that made an impact? Editor: The almost vortex-like arrangement, that intense contrast between light and dark around the falling star feels deeply turbulent. And those creaturely forms, like winged insects. I see your point that they aren’t quite demonic, but their presence undeniably escalates the unease. Curator: And that is why art speaks so directly, the personal vision colliding and mixing and stirring new visions. Redon provokes the experience of an idea, a feeling; it can be almost violently evocative, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Editor: Absolutely. It's definitely given me a lot to think about regarding the power of symbolism and abstraction in art.