Ténèbres (Darkness)

1892

Odilon Redon (artist), Iwan Gilkin (author)

Associated Names
Odilon Redon

Artist, French, 1840 - 1916

Iwan Gilkin

Author, Belgian, 1858-1924

Hubert Beenkens

Bookbinder, Belgian, 1867 - 1940

Edmond Deman

Publisher, Belgian, 1857 - 1918

The sculpture depicted on the book cover shows an owl perched on a tree branch, next to a coiled serpent. In the background, two flying birds are seen. The word "Ténèbres" at the top may suggest darkness. The color of the sculpture and book cover is predominantly brown with varying shades. The material appears to be leather, as indicated by the texture and pattern. The composition conveys a naturalistic scene with a rustic and somewhat mysterious visual impression due to the muted colors and intricate carving style.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bound volume with 1 lithographic frontispiece on Hollande van Gelder paper

  • Credit Line

    Woodner Collection, Gift of Dian Woodner

  • Dimensions

    image: 19.7 × 12.3 cm (7 3/4 × 4 13/16 in.)
    book: 26.3 × 19.5 × 2.3 cm (10 3/8 × 7 11/16 × 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2014.137.3

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Mellerio 1913, no. 121

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Dian Woodner, New York, NY; gift to NGA, 2014.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1913

  • Mellerio, Andre. Odilon Redon. Paris: Societe pour l'Etude de la Gravure Francais, 1913. Reprint. New York: Da Capo Press, 1968, no. 121.

Inscriptions

not signed

Markings

stamped at upper left corner of flyleaf: H BEENKENS REL

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