Et moi, Jean, Je vis la sainte cite, la nouvelle Jerusalem, qui descendait du ciel, d’aupres de dieu (1899)

Welcome to our exploration of Odilon Redon's intriguing artwork, "Et moi, Jean, Je vis la sainte cité, la nouvelle Jérusalem, qui descendait du ciel, d’auprès de dieu" (1899). This captivating lithograph translates to "And I, John, saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven from God," a line from the Book of Revelation which vividly captures the essence of Redon's vision in this piece.In this artwork, Redon depicts the celestial city of the New Jerusalem descending amidst a dramatic and ethereal landscape. The city, detailed with classical architectural elements, floats in a softly textured sky that seems to pulse with radiant light. Below, the dark, almost foreboding cliffs serve as a stark contrast to the illuminated city above, perhaps symbolizing the human realm or the mundane world below.This lithograph is a prime example of Redon's ability to blend the real with the mystical, the seen with the unseen. His use of light and shadow, along with the meticulous yet dreamlike rendering of the holy city, invites viewers into a contemplative space where spiritual reflections and earthly realities merge.This piece is not just a visual representation but an invitation to ponder the mystical and often ineffable mysteries of the sacred and the divine.