Orpheus 

Odilon Redon created Orpheus using pastel on paper, sometime between 1840 and 1916. The hazy blending of colors, typical of the medium, is on full display here. Pastels are interesting things. They’re pure pigment, the same as in any painting, but they’re held together with just enough binder to make a stick. This means that the artist isn’t pushing paint around, but actually depositing dry color directly onto the page. Look at the way Redon has layered the pastel, creating a soft, dreamlike effect. The textures aren't just visual. The intense hues bring out the physical properties of the artwork. The velvety feel of the instrument, the heavy weight of the rock, and the light, airy quality of the sky create a sense of depth and contrast. The association of pastel with immediacy and gesture is apparent in this work. It challenges the traditional hierarchy between drawing and painting, or sketch and finished composition. Materials, making, and context all come together, encouraging us to rethink our preconceptions about what makes an artwork meaningful.