3. The Cyclops / Odilon Redon (1914)

The Cyclops / Odilon Redon (1914)

The Cyclops / Odilon Redon (1914)

Oil on canvas / H: 64 cm, W: 51

■ Statement

"I have often, as an exercise and as a sustenance, painted before an object down to the smallest accidents of its visual appearance; but the day left me sad and with an unsatiated thirst. The next day I let the other source run, that of imagination, through the recollection of the forms and I was then reassured and appeased."

■ Brief Biographical Information of Artist 

French painter Odilon Redon (1840 – 1916) dissociated himself from all artistic movements and trends with his fantastic black and white depictions of amorphous creatures, and insects and plants with human heads. Inspired by his dreams, Redon equated his bizarre creations to music, with its ability to transport the audience to ambiguous realms. Redon’s nocturnal world was also related to writings by Poe, Baudelaire and Mallarmé. During the last 15 years of his life, Redon unexpectedly painted luminous pastels and radiant oils of flowers and mythological subjects. Producing 200 prints in his lifetime, Redon laid the groundwork for Surrealism and Dada.

■ Background of the Art work

The Cyclops is a painting by Odilon Redon depicting a myth starring an "unlucky naiad Galatea, loved by Polyphemus, the most famous Cyclops." Like most Cyclops in mythology, Polyphemus was villainized as a wild creature that hunted its victims and then consumed them. This subject had been painted before by artists such as Moreau; however Redon has taken this myth and given Polyphemus a makeover. In Redon's version, Polyphemus is shown as a non-threatening passive creature. The normally menacing beast is shown softly gazing with a large eye that has been seen in previous Redon works. Galatea, the naiad, is shown naked and vulnerably lying on a patch of vegetation. It appears Polyphemus is keeping one gentle eye watching over the "sexualized maiden." He has hidden himself from Galatea behind the rocky terrain, too shy to directly confront her "helpless" form. Redon was not typical in his topics or artistic ventures, his departure from the normal depiction of Polyphemus was influenced by his dream like style and departure from artistic norm.

■ Connection Between the Art and the Theme 

Its original painter "Max Moreau" was painting this art work to express erotic beauty of the elf. On the other hand, Odilon Redon tried to express the monster's sadness, but he since has only one eye, he cannot propose to her.