Title: Vase au guerrier japonais
Artist: Odilon Redon (French, 1840-1916)
Medium: pastel and charcoal on paper
Dimensions: 93.2 x 73 cm
Date Created: 1905-1908
Description
Executed between 1905 and 1908, Vase au guerrier japonais (Vase with Japanese Warrior) represents a quintessential fusion of the still-life genre and the mystical atmosphere characteristic of Odilon Redon’s oeuvre. This significant pastel transcends mere floral depiction, offering a unique and idiosyncratic perspective that underscores Redon’s pivotal role within Symbolism. It is a form of dreamscape, a splendid pretext for the artist to indulge his burgeoning passion for colour. The composition bursts with audacious, vibrant hues that create strange yet pleasing harmonies. A gentle haze envelops the background, where two smaller vases shimmer like mirages. The titular vase itself is decorated with figures likely derived from Momijigari, a Japanese Noh and Kabuki play, suggesting a demon rather than a warrior. The rich palette and deliberately asymmetrical floral arrangement evoke the influence of Japanese woodcuts and a loose awareness of ikebana.
Redon confessed that strict observation left him “sad and dissatisfied,” finding solace only when the “source of imagination” flowed through his recollection of forms. This work embodies that principle: while demonstrating masterful observational skill, especially in the flowers, it is imbued with a lyrical mystery and sense of otherness. Compared to the nightmarish quality of his earlier Noirs, these blossoms speak of unfettered joy and wonder, an immersion in nature’s beauty. Here, colour is explored with revelatory intensity, like visual fireworks. For Redon, this sustained foray into colour marked significant artistic progress. The pastel thus provides insight into his imaginative world and his thoughtful approach to creation, standing as a perfect expression of fantasy and poetic enigma.
Image Download
Image Dimensions: 2138 x 2700 pixels
Image Size: 2.63 MB
Image Format: JPG
Print Resolution: 300 dpi
Download Format: ZIP Archive
License: Public Domain, Free for Commercial Use
