Apollo's Chariot 1906

Odilon Redon, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century, made this oil painting. Just look at those marks! So expressive and atmospheric. I imagine Redon, in his studio, layering thin washes of color, building up this image of Apollo's chariot through trial, error, and intuition. It's easy to sympathize with an artist like Redon as he’s trying to get this scene just right. Did he pause, brush in hand, thinking about the myth, the horses, the light? The paint isn't too thick, more like a stain really, which lets those colors glow against each other. Take the way the deep blues meet those fiery oranges – a real push and pull. And that single white horse, leaping forward, so full of energy. Redon reminds us that artists are always talking to each other, across time, inspiring each other's creativity. Painting is a form of expression, a willingness to embrace ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for different interpretations.