Flowers 2 by Odilon Redon
Flowers 2
Odilon Redon’s Dreamlike Florals: A Study in Symbolist Ambiguity
Few artists bridged the gap between nature and the unconscious as deftly as Odilon Redon. In Flowers 2, he transforms a traditional still life into a meditation on organic form and psychological depth. The work belongs to his late period, when Redon abandoned the dark, monstrous visions of his noirs for vibrant color—yet retained his signature ability to infuse the ordinary with the uncanny. This print captures the original’s luminous palette and delicate linework, where petals seem to pulse with an inner light.
The composition’s tension lies in its duality: flowers, traditionally symbols of beauty and transience, here take on an almost architectural precision. As The Metropolitan Museum of Art notes, Redon’s late works “reveal his fascination with the interplay between the visible and the imagined.” The blooms in Flowers 2 exist at this threshold—rooted in botanical observation yet floating free of literal representation. Their arrangement defies conventional bouquet logic, with stems and leaves forming abstract patterns that draw the eye into a rhythmic dance across the canvas.
The Symbolist’s Garden: Redon’s Late-Career Reinvention
By the 1890s, Redon had become the elder statesman of Symbolism, his work evolving from the shadowy noirs that defined his early reputation. Flowers 2 emerges from this period of chromatic liberation, where his longstanding interest in botanical subjects found new expression through color lithography. Unlike the Impressionists’ fleeting light studies, Redon’s florals exist in a timeless space—neither fully realistic nor entirely abstract. His contemporaries, including Gauguin and Denis, shared this interest in synthesizing form and emotion, but Redon’s approach remained uniquely personal.
The artist’s turn to color coincided with his growing fame among the Nabi group and young modernists. Tate’s overview of Redon’s career emphasizes how his late works “challenge the viewer to look beyond the surface.” In Flowers 2, this manifests through the contrast between the flowers’ vivid hues and the muted background—a visual metaphor for the relationship between perception and imagination. The print’s 30×40 cm dimensions allow these details to shine, from the delicate veining of petals to the subtle gradations of color that define each bloom.
Redon’s genius lies in his ability to make the familiar strange. Flowers 2 isn’t a still life—it’s a still dream, where botanical accuracy serves as the scaffold for something far more elusive.
The Alchemy of Redon’s Floral Compositions
Composition: A Study in Controlled Chaos
The arrangement of Flowers 2 defies classical still-life conventions. Redon abandons the pyramid structures favored by Dutch masters, instead scattering blooms across the picture plane with apparent randomness. Yet the placement is meticulously balanced: the darkest flower anchors the lower left, while lighter hues ascend diagonally toward the upper right. This creates a sense of movement akin to musical notation, where each stem and petal functions as a note in a visual symphony.
Color: Luminosity Through Contrast
The print’s fidelity to Redon’s original color relationships is striking. He employs a limited palette dominated by warm yellows, deep reds, and cool blues—colors that vibrate against one another through complementary contrast. The background’s neutral tone, a signature of his late work, allows the flowers to glow as if illuminated from within. This effect, achieved through careful layering of transparent glazes in the original, translates beautifully to the framed print’s archival inks, preserving the luminosity that defines Redon’s mature style.
Own This Symbolist Masterwork
Bring Redon’s visionary florals into your space with this gallery-framed print. Each piece arrives ready to hang, with FREE worldwide shipping and a 30-day return guarantee.
Add to Cart — $24999Where to Display Flowers 2: A Curator’s Perspective
This print’s 30×40 cm dimensions and restrained color palette make it remarkably versatile. The warm tonalities pair exceptionally well with modern interiors featuring natural wood accents or soft gray walls. For maximum impact, position the print at eye level in a narrow hallway or above a console table, where its vertical orientation can elongate the space. The floral subject matter softens contemporary furnishings, while the composition’s abstract qualities prevent it from reading as overly traditional.
In larger rooms, consider grouping Flowers 2 with other Redon works from the same period—his Bouquet or Anemones prints create a compelling diptych or triptych. The framed piece’s neutral mat and simple molding ensure it complements both minimalist and maximalist decor schemes. Avoid placing it in direct sunlight to preserve the archival inks’ vibrancy for decades.
What kind of frame is included?
Each print arrives in a custom-milled solid wood frame with an acid-free mat board. The framing is designed to conservation standards, using UV-protective glazing to prevent fading. The profile is a classic gallery style that complements Redon’s aesthetic without competing with it.
Where do you ship, and how long does delivery take?
We offer FREE shipping to all countries, with no minimum purchase required. Production typically takes 2–3 business days, followed by 5–10 business days for international delivery. You’ll receive a tracking number once your order ships.
How long will the colors stay vibrant?
Our prints use archival pigment inks rated for 100+ years under normal lighting conditions. The UV-protective glazing in the frame further guards against fading. For best results, display the print away from direct sunlight and extreme humidity.
What’s your return policy?
You may return your framed print within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We even cover return shipping costs. The print must arrive back in its original packaging and condition.
Sources & Further Reading
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Odilon Redon (1840–1916)." metmuseum.org
- Tate. "Odilon Redon." tate.org.uk
- The Art Story. "Odilon Redon." theartstory.org
More Works by Odilon Redon
Explore the full range of Redon’s visionary prints, from his mysterious noirs to the luminous color works of his late career.
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This framed print of Flowers 2 arrives ready to hang, with FREE worldwide shipping and a 30-day return policy. Own a piece of Symbolist history today.
Add to Cart — $24999