The Graphic Works of Odilon Redon (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) [Paperback]

Odilon Redon (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Fine Art, History of Art | Publication Date: September 20, 2005

A prominent Symbolist and a precursor to the Surrealists, Redon transformed common subjects into fantastic images, depicting serpents, skeletons, and monsters with a distinctive style of realism. This modestly priced compilation features 209 of the influential artist's graphic works — 172 lithographs, plus 37 etchings and engravings.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

One of the most expressive artists of the Symbolism movement, Odilon Redon (1840-1916) led a quiet life. Withdrawn in manner, conventional in dress, and virtually unknown for the first half of his career, the French painter and graphic artist drew upon his own startlingly complex and fantastic inner world to create haunting works that reveal an existence beyond that of everyday vision. He transformed common subjects and models into strange, eerie images and exhibited a predilection for spiders and serpents, skeletons and skulls, gnomes and monsters--all rendered in a distinctive style of controlled, delicate realism.
Redon's popularity arose chiefly among young progressive artists, who considered his works as visual correspondence to the literary symbolism of Mallarmé. Modern devotees regard Redon's translation of the subconscious world of dreams into visual reality as a precursor to Surrealism. This modestly priced volume offers a rich compilation of the influential artist's graphic works, with 209 illustrations--72 lithographs, plus 37 etchings and engravings--depicting unforgettable scenes of fantasy and mystery.
Dover (2005) unabridged republication of two portfolios entitled Odilon Redon: oeuvre graphique complet, published by Artz & De Bois, The Hague, n.d. [1913], plus additional graphic works from various sources. Introduction and caption translations by Alfred Werner. 240pp. 83/8 x 11. Paperbound.

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For current price information write to Dover Publications, or log on to www.doverpublications.com--and see every Dover book in print.
Free Dover Fine Art and Art Instruction Catalog (58283-3) available upon request.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (September 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 048644659X
• ISBN-13: 978-0486446592
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #987,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Giant Disappointment!, June 29, 2007

By 

warzoo - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Graphic Works of Odilon Redon (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) (Paperback)

I'm a new admirer of Redon. I was truly excited to get this book so I could pour over the many bizarre and beautiful images I would find within it's pages. I cannot tell you how disappointed I am with the poor quality of reproductions. It's a cheap book, I get it---but wow. The image quality is about as good a 10 cent black and white copy you'd get from the library copy machine. The delicacy is missing. The luminous quality which makes his work so stunning, brilliant, and unearthly is completely absent. I guess what was most disappointing is how vacant and lifeless the work appears. I really can't believe it.

Even though there aren't a lot of books available on Redon, but I'm pretty certain this particular one will be returned. I find no joy looking through it. I should have known better than to purchase a $15 art book. I have ordered, but have yet to receive, the Redon book "As In Dream" and here's hoping it's not a let down, too.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Late 19th Century French Symbolist Graphic Works, March 18, 2006

By 

HistoryGrl3 (Malibu, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Graphic Works of Odilon Redon (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) (Paperback)

Odilon Redon's graphic works are eerie yet beautiful. Many are in the public domain and you may have seen some already (think hot air balloon with an eyeball searching upward). His artistry is a combination of a lonely childhood filled with enormous rooms and heavy drapery, and a desire to draw what the Romantics were writing about. His work is dark but joyful. Many references to the saints and Christianity, but that was the world he lived in. Overall, a treasure to own, occasionally peruse and learn from. If you like smiling spiders this book is for you.