ODILON REDON - Breton Village

THE ARTWORK

Breton Village is a lesser-known yet evocative work by Odilon Redon, painted in 1890, reflecting his interest in capturing the mood and atmosphere of landscapes. Painted in 1890, this piece exemplifies Redon’s shift from the dark, monochromatic tones of his early "noirs" to a brighter, more vibrant palette.

In Breton Village, Redon portrays a rural scene in Brittany, a region in France known for its distinct cultural identity and picturesque landscapes. The painting features a tranquil village nestled amidst lush greenery and rolling hills, bathed in soft, diffused light. Redon’s use of color is subtle yet expressive, with the greens, blues, and earth tones creating a harmonious and serene atmosphere.

While Redon is primarily known for his fantastical and symbolist works, Breton Village reveals his ability to capture the quiet beauty of everyday scenes. The painting reflects his interest in the spiritual and emotional resonance of the natural world, a theme that runs throughout his diverse body of work.

THE ARTIST

Odilon Redon (1840–1916) was a French symbolist artist known for his ethereal and dreamlike works that explored the boundaries between reality and imagination. Born in Bordeaux, Redon initially studied architecture but soon shifted his focus to painting, drawing, and printmaking. His early works, primarily in black and white, were heavily influenced by the writings of Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Baudelaire, as well as the dark, fantastical world of Goya.

Redon’s "noirs," a series of charcoal drawings and lithographs, are characterized by their haunting, mysterious imagery—floating heads, surreal landscapes, and strange, hybrid creatures. These works established Redon as a master of symbolism, a movement that sought to express the emotions and ideas beyond the literal depiction of reality.

In the 1890s, Redon’s palette shifted dramatically to vibrant colors, and he began producing pastels and oil paintings that retained the fantastical elements of his earlier work but with a newfound luminosity and depth. His colorful works, often featuring flowers, mythological scenes, and visionary figures, reflect a profound interest in spirituality and the inner workings of the mind.

Redon’s art had a significant influence on later modernist movements, particularly surrealism, with his exploration of the unconscious and the symbolic power of dreams.

THE PRINT

• A4 Size = 29.7cm x 21cm = 11.7" x 8.25"
• A3 Size = 42cm x 29.7cm = 16.5" x 11.7"
• High resolution giclée print - 600dpi
• Printed to order
• Unframed & unmounted
• Professionally printed using Canon imagePROGRAF printers
• Digitally restored by OharaPrints from high resolution scans of the original artwork
• Made in and shipped from Casterton, Victoria, Australia

PAPER

• Canson Infinity - Arches BFK Rives White
• Paper weight = 310gsm
• 100% cotton
• Archival, museum grade
• Acid free
• No OBAs (optical brightening agents)

Arches BFK Rives is a high-quality, archival-grade paper manufactured at the Arches paper mill in France - one of the oldest papermakers in Europe. It is made from 100% cotton rag using a time-honoured manufacturing process, giving the paper exceptional durability, longevity, and resistance to yellowing or deterioration over time. Despite its substantial weight and thickness it maintains a very soft and supple feel. The paper has a natural white tone and is completely free of any optical brighteners (OBAs), allowing for superb colour rendition and deep blacks.

INK

• Canon Lucia Pro Inks
• Pigment based
• Archival, museum-grade
• Brilliant colours, even gradient and razor-sharp lines
• Highly stable and fade resistant, excellent humidity-fastness

SHIPPING & HANDLING

• All orders are dispatched on the NEXT BUSINESS DAY after receiving the order
• All prints are shipped via AUSTRALIA POST with TRACKING
• For postage rates and estimated delivery times please see our SHIPPING page
• All prints are shipped flat, not rolled
• Each print is individually placed into a resealable, archival grade plastic protective sleeve
• Prints are carefully packaged in very sturdy 700gsm cardboard envelopes, along with 1050gsm boxboard sheets which provide extra strength & rigidity to prevent bending or folding during transit