One of the most expressive artists of the Symbolism movement, Odilon (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 Withdrawn in manner, conventional in dress, and virtually unknown for the first half of his career, the French painter and graphic artist drew upon his own startlingly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 Mallarme. 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.