Saint Anthony and the Two Temptresses 1896 - 1900

Odilon Redon created this lithograph titled "Saint Anthony and the Two Temptresses." Redon, working in late 19th century France, existed in a society grappling with rapid industrialization and shifting social norms. In this piece, Redon reimagines traditional religious iconography. The two temptresses, symbols of desire and temptation, challenge the conventional portrayal of women as either saintly or sinful. Redon blurs these lines. He presents them as complex figures with agency, rather than mere objects of male fantasy. The artist wrote about his work as aiming to "suggest things." He wanted to free the viewer from the constraints of literal representation. What do you feel when looking at this? The piece offers an exploration of the inner turmoil and societal pressures faced by individuals and the power of personal vision to challenge established norms.