Pégase captif 1889

Odilon Redon made this lithograph called "Pégase captif" in France, though we're not sure exactly when. It speaks to a moment in French art history when artists questioned the established norms of the academy and sought to explore new and subjective realms of experience. Looking at this print, the mythical Pegasus is not soaring freely through the air, but is instead constrained. A dark, brooding creature, he's being shoed by a farrier. This potent image reflects the cultural anxieties of the time, as rapid industrialization and urbanization threatened traditional ways of life. The image invites us to consider how even the most transcendent ideals can be grounded, domesticated, and made subject to the demands of everyday life. To understand Redon’s work, we need to consider the social and institutional forces that shaped him. His work was exhibited at the Salon, but he also moved in Symbolist circles, connecting with writers and artists who were deeply critical of the status quo. Studying these different networks helps us to understand the multiple layers of meaning in Redon's enigmatic work.