Eye Balloon 1898

Odilon Redon made "Eye Balloon" using lithography, a printmaking process that allows for soft, tonal effects. The velvety blacks and grays are achieved by drawing with a greasy crayon onto a stone, which is then chemically treated to accept ink only where the crayon has marked it. This printmaking technique democratized image-making in the 19th century, allowing for the mass production of artworks. Here, the process lends a dreamlike quality to Redon's image. The eye itself, bristling with fine lines that suggest both eyelashes and the form of a hot air balloon, dominates the composition. A tiny, almost comical human figure dangles beneath. The lithographic crayon allows Redon to build up the eye's intensity, contrasting it against the pale sky and the dark, brooding landscape below. The very act of printing, of making multiples, invites us to consider the social context of this image. Redon challenges traditional notions of artistic uniqueness by embracing a reproducible medium. "Eye Balloon" reminds us that art is not just about individual genius, but also about the means of production, labor, and its accessibility to a wider audience.