Evocation of Roussel (c. 1912)

"Evocation of Roussel," painted around 1912 by French symbolist artist Odilon Redon, is a masterful exploration of color and emotion. The painting depicts an ethereal scene featuring the elderly figure of Ker-Xavier Roussel, a fellow artist and contemporary of Redon. Roussel is portrayed surrounded by an aura of dreamlike blooms, magnifying the mystical and almost otherworldly quality distinctive of Redon’s later works.The figure itself is rendered with a contemplative, serene expression, embodying a blend of wisdom and resignation. Roussel's visage and figure are somewhat blurred and softened, lending an air of impermanence and fading memory, as if he is being recalled from another time or place. Surrounding him are vibrant flowers and floating pollen, elements that appear frequently in Redon's work, symbolizing the growth and decay inherent in nature.The use of light and pastel colors in the background contrasts sharply with the vibrant, bursting hues of the flowers. This juxtaposition not only highlights the central figure but also lends a sense of vitality and emphasizes the spiritual and introspective themes of the piece.This painting, like much of Redon’s output from this period, moves away from the darker tones and themes of his earlier works and embraces a brighter, more expressive palette.