Provenance
Ambroise Vollard (1867-1939), Paris [according to Joachim 1979]. Henri Petiet (1894-1980), Paris, by March 1940 [according to Wildenstein 1992]; sold to the Art Institute, 1950.
Accession Number
90295
Medium
Black charcoal with touches of brown charcoal, stumping, scraping and erasing, on ivory wove paper, discolored to cream
Dimensions
49.3 × 38.2 cm (19 7/16 × 15 1/16 in.)
Classification
charcoal
Credit Line
David Adler Collection
Background & Context
Background Story
Odilon Redon's Tree (c. 1875) is an early charcoal drawing on ivory wove paper showing a solitary tree. This work from Redon's early noir period treats a natural subject with the atmospheric sensibility that would define his style. The tree rises from the dark ground, its form rendered with careful attention to the structure of trunk and branches while maintaining a sense of mystery.
Cultural Impact
Redon's early tree studies demonstrate his mastery of charcoal technique applied to natural subjects.
Why It Matters
This early charcoal drawing of a tree shows Redon's atmospheric approach to natural subjects.
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Cover-Frontispiece for the Temptation of St. Anthony
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