Le Liseur 1892

Odilon Redon’s lithograph presents an archetypal image of contemplation: an old man seated, absorbed in reading, surrounded by books. The window, reminiscent of a gothic rose window, suggests a bridge between the earthly and the transcendent. The act of reading itself is laden with symbolism. Throughout history, the book has been a vessel of knowledge, a tool for spiritual enlightenment, but also a source of forbidden wisdom, as seen in the story of Adam and Eve. Consider the Renaissance depictions of Saint Jerome in his study, a common motif for intellectual pursuit and devotion. Yet, even earlier, in ancient Egypt, scrolls held the secrets of life and death, accessible only to priests and scribes. In this image, the solitary figure engaged in reading is a universal symbol. It expresses our longing for understanding, connecting us to the collective human experience. The image evokes a deep psychological resonance. The quiet solitude, the pursuit of knowledge in dim light, all speak to our subconscious desire for truth and meaning.