Maurice Denis 1903

This is a drawing of Maurice Denis, made by Odilon Redon in 1903. We see a profile view, meticulously rendered in pencil, of Denis, a fellow artist. In France, at the turn of the century, the art world was in turmoil. The traditional academic style was challenged by avant-garde movements like symbolism, to which Redon belonged, and the Nabis, with whom Denis was associated. Portraits were not just about likeness; they were statements of artistic and philosophical allegiance. Redon’s choice to depict Denis, and Denis's agreement to be portrayed, suggests a mutual respect and perhaps a shared vision of art's future. To understand this image fully, we might look at the writings of both artists, exhibition reviews from the period, and the catalogues of the various Salons where they exhibited. This drawing, therefore, is more than just a portrait, it is a document of a critical moment in the history of art, reflecting the complex social and institutional dynamics of the time.