Drawing His Darkest Dreams | Odilon Redon's Noirs

This week we are presenting Odilon Redon’s Noirs. As a surrealist and symbolist, here he presents a series of charcoal drawings and lithographs depicting nightmarish and hybrid creatures. In this series Redon explores emotions, the real and the unreal, as well as anything that might have been seen in a dream. Some of Redon’s art is in a private collection, while much of it is at MoMA.
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#arthistory #art #surrealism #symbolist #frenchsymbolistmovement #lithographs #lesnoirsodilon #odilonredon

[@nerd26373]

Painting analyses are fascinating in general. You are one of the best when it comes to delving into the backstories of these art pieces. May you continue to receive blessings all the way.

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

That's really sweet Sophia. Thank you so much!

[@emiliofigueroa2275]

Thanks amongus

[@SqueakyFanBelt]

Can not take that seriously with the among us lmfao

[@nope_nope6669]

I bet YOU'RE British!

[@Amira_Phoenix]

@@SqueakyFanBelt it's an avatar inception, get the drip

[@thenightking7167]

The quasi-spider drawing is way too severely cute to be included in a "nightmare imagery" category. He looks like a hybrid of a lowland gorilla and a cute fluffy spider. Beyond adorable.

[@thenightking7167]

@Seana Noh, I love the "Crying Spider" illustration! The little human-spider hybrid doesn't appear intimating to me at all. In fact, in its facial expression, all I see is extreme vulnerability and the "cry for help." It is a very empathy evoking. 🙂

[@fungustheclown666]

I fvcking swear on my life that I saw that in a sleep paralysis episode as a young kid. IT looked EXACTLY like that. Less facial detail but it was in the dark. Fully convinced its an actual demon now.

[@thenightking7167]

@@fungustheclown666, I am sorry that the vision terrified you. But it was most likely a cute little friend. Not a demon. Nothing is scarier than humans, anyway. 🙂

[@oriel9347]

Utterly beautiful.

[@fungustheclown666]

@@thenightking7167 Lookibg nice is not an equal to being nice. But my theory to get over it as a child was to think that it must have been worse for ut to see me than it was for me ro see it

[@gnarbeljo8980]

Absolutely adore his work. I have a sleep disorder that involves lack of deep (dreamless) sleep. So I usually wake up a bit exhausted from all that happened in my dreams. Because of this I'm entirely familiar with the world of my subconciousness. Although sometimes terrifying, most of the time it's more surreal and curious, images and events, besides the images clearly taken from everyday life. I find these creatures mystical mythical and even endearing messengers of the psyché. He was a sort of artist that much later would inspire the surrealists and later yet, artists like Tim Burton whose imaginary figures often have ambiguous qualities. Monsterously odd but evoking fascination more than fear, or a familiar emotional state, or our sympathy. I love that these are simply black and white, also thos leaves room for the viewers own imagination. Of you have a strong connection to your shadow world, as an artist its a treasure trove and is often meaningful to others interestingly. Without much explanation. Thank you for reminding me of an early love I'd almost forgotten ❤️👌

[@abracadaverous]

I used to have sleep apnea, which was bad for me in many ways, but it did give me an intimate familiarity with my dreamscapes. I was able to recognize his work as dream distortions, rather than simply monsters.

[@gnarbeljo8980]

@@abracadaverous I'm sure you did. If you know you know. The dreamscape or subconscious uses alot of extreme images and actions quite differently than our conscious world. In that way it resembles a tarot deck (prrsumably thats how these cards and interpretations were created). If you read Freud and Jung and a few more modern psychoanalysts on dream interpretation you find alot of parallels. Death in dreams most often represents rebirth, renewal, regenerative power. Most characters in dreams are merely representations of parts of ourselves. The surrealists all understood this many other artists clearly have too. And many artists work through their personal problems using imagery the same way. Normies who never suffered sleep disorders or studied physiology tend to misinterpret artists again and again in very literal ways. They don't (or cant afford to) grasp the dream within a dream, the language of the part of consciousness they cant control bv they risk meeting their demons and liberating themselves from values and inhibitions they endured a childhood being drilled in and a lifetime aquiring. Non artists, regular middle class ciss achievers, seldom mix closely with serious artists for a reason. The goals and values are opposed. Someone has to give up theirs and the artost never will. Alot of art critics don't get the half of it either, they're too in love with their own voice to listen to the woeful melancholy whispers of their own subconcious. Pride can kill both artcritics and artists, but good art survives them. Reviews are forgotten. Really only the ironically awful ones of geniuses work are ever remembered. My brother (also an artist) has a book thick as a bible compilating the most memorable fogotten idiots using all their verbal schvung to tear artworks, literature, classical music, rock debuts etc that have since been understood as masterpieces by geniuses of their generation. It's a fantastically funny read! They invested so much energy and it's all they're remembered for. The irony eh? 😂 🤣

[@fewocious6774]

I literally love this channel so much. Thank you for everything you do

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

Thank you so much!! Really kind words :)

[@oscargrace8472]

Odilon Redon's work never fails to evoke such visceral emotion upon viewing and it just gets stronger when interpreting and connecting with the piece. Great video!

[@Dani-xz1uw]

those are some of the most fascinating works I've ever seen. this channel has made me realize just how much amazing art flies under the radar of most people

[@wakkawakkagaming3710]

I wonder if Miura drew inspiration from Redon when he was designing the Berserk, particularly the demonic entities and Behelets. I can definitely see Redon and Goya in his style

[@JoshuaSmith-bg3dc]

I recently bought Clive Barker‘s “visions of heaven and hell.” It’s a collection of his various drawings and paintings through his career as a visual artist, and while I was watching I kept thinking back to it because most of the figures in his works are what may be considered “nightmarish,” but if you look at them a different way they’re very similar to Odilon Redon’s. The bodies are bizarre and colorful, but they have an ambiguity that, if you study them, seem far more dreamlike. They appear to be just mortal beings stolen out of a dream, and Barker himself would describe them as dreams himself. Maybe it’s because in my own artwork I rely so much upon my dreams and impulses for inspiration but these drawings are a beautiful reminder of how pushing the boundaries of reality in art can allow us to reevaluate our perceptions and appreciate the living world even more. Thanks so much for this video man. Keep up the great work 🙂

[@carol4353]

please bring more videos talking about black and white art, I loved every minute of this video

[@corg_9939]

I only discovered him yesterday and lo and behold you make a video on him the next day!

[@rossdunning7018]

Redon not only painted the grim but also still life's such as flowers in vases as well as landscapes and seascapes and religious iconography. An all round good egg.

[@IrenePrincipe17]

From the first moment I saw "The Teeth" I recognized the story "Berenice" by Edgar Allan Poe, and in fact, researching I found out that Redon was indeed inspired by his works most of the times.

[@pkpmendez3]

I have always enjoyed going to museums and seeing paintings but your channel and content have really brought my love of art to the forefront. I look forward to your videos for the knowledge and insight. Thank you!

[@NY_Mountain_Man]

Besides the language barrier, I feel like if I went back in time and meet Redon.. He'd either punch me in the face and never speak to me again or we'd end up lovers. Win / win in my book. Btw: (At least to me) His work makes perfect sense. Each work in act of sheer insistence upon living to prove a mad dog point the world ain't that messed up.

[@rhogh]

This channel just keeps bringing up the largely unknown artists. One of the best out there!

[@kartiktiwari7360]

The music choice was so well done! Good job

[@alunalixx368]

What is it called

[@yoallisanchez6763]

name of the song please :c

[@alunalixx368]

@@yoallisanchez6763 Olêka by Franz gordon

[@sandspar]

Choice of music is perfect for this essay.

[@daber2000]

The power behind fearless art comes from its courage. Artists who dared take us beyond the tyranny of realism did so at a time when surely they drew condemnation from a general public whose opinions were still largely bound to religion. The anguish of contemporary art today is rooted in its inability to shock and trascend at the scale that artists like Redon did back then

[@withermagic9508]

I always thought these were just goofy, really confusing drawings alive what I thought the garden of early delights was- and I really didn’t think there were more them than that. But I guess I was wrong, it takes understanding the artist like this to know

[@a.mie.533]

These pictures are so artistic and skillful and yet a nightmare. They give such an awkward and uncomfortable feeling.

[@kjcs_1896]

Thank you for the video on one of my favorite set of etchings. Redon influenced me in my writing and my drawings sometimes. It is surrealism before surrealism, these are the sort of things I see in my dreams, something I always use for inspiration. Awesome video as usual. Quality content right here

[@John.T.]

“Narrowness of the realist theories which confine art and refuse it access to its most fertile sources: thought, inspiration, genius - in a word - and all that it reveals to us.” Key element to this quote: ‘genius’ originally in Latin means: In born nature As well as: a guardian sprit in which guides a person from birth, through life. Brings whole new meaning to that quote. There’s a solid chance he meant it in that context.

[@thechosenone5644]

New favorite artist just dropped

[@mch12311969]

Redon is another favorite of mine. I agree his subjects are not monster, they are the stuff of dreams; that which lives in the shadows.

[@bumblevee123]

Wonderful. I love when artists just create what they're seeing, even if all they see is in their mind. Letting people in at the way they see things, awake or while sleeping. Creepy! Thanks for a great video!

[@Nlduncan]

Thank you for this video, what song did you use? Edit: Its Oleka by Franz Gordon

[@kevinbaker4907]

Nice one. I never heard a single thing about him at art college and university, when I came across a book of his work 15 years later I was gobsmacked, one seriously neglected artist. Religion, mythology and the subconscious mind, heady stuff indeed. I,m sure you've given a lot of people a lot of pleasure introducing his work to them.

[@valeria_sue777]

the little, fuzzing Smiling spider is the cutest thing I've seen to today! Love that little guy!

[@cykablyat9274]

Thank you for the video

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

Thank you for the comment!

[@sweetsilence5642]

dude im so happy that you blew up!!! i remember some time ago i was telling a guy how there are great channels on youtube but have very few subscribers because their content is very niche (at that time you had 15k or something). happy for you man.

[@Campake]

as always, wonderfully done, thank you

[@smk1715]

Hey i love your content! Love to watch before sleep and getting know new artists about ive never heard before. I have one question would you ever consider making video about Zdziasław Beksiński's art? Im from little city where he used to paint his best pieces there is museum abt him here. Have a nice day and thanks for this video ;D

[@malka1762]

The choice of music here is brilliant, combined with the subject matter I think I this is one of my favorite videos of yours.

[@Itsme-qo2le]

Redon is one of the very first artists, I actively search to find more art from to look at, and I don't just look at what finds me.

[@samanthapayne665]

One of my favorite artists! Thanks for doing a video :)

[@GrantTarredus]

Thank you so very much for this moving examination.

[@eugeneshulman3073]

Very well put together,always interesting,good choice of music ,all elements work together,I subscribed

[@madverymat5118]

idk why but my art keeps on getting better everytime i watch ur videos, anyways continue on what your doing i love it :)

[@Someweirddguy]

Really love this, I've been having wild dreams lately and these are somehow comforting.

[@shawnouko4031]

YOU ARE THE BEST!!!

[@-Thauma-]

Fascinating ❤

[@upumpkin]

Thank you for the subtitles!

[@kristofferpenell5881]

Loved the video! Although i have only drawn as a hobby in life, this channel makes me very interested in art and inspired to perhaps pick up the hobby again. Thank you!

[@ivanordonez1183]

Amazing!!!

[@lucrativedoor8385]

They have such a grim appearance because of the black and gray. I wonder if these images would appear as macabre in color like Goya or would they fall into a more surrealism category like Dali who was also just expressing his imagination 🤔

[@borealmarinda4337]

My favorite part has to be how great the titles are. Whether it's description, dialogue, or stark statement, they always end up being both narratively prosaic and poetically playful. It brings out the unsettling imaginative spirit of the art, but could itself be its own artwork. It's unmistakably related to the strange visuals, but just like those, it seems like only a glimpse at something, a portion of a prose poem, a fragment of a scene of a story in a dream. It describes the images, it explains them, it expands them, it moves them, and still, it so often only makes my mind wonder more about the imagery displayed, and the meaning of the titles themselves. They dance between the flowery, the playful, the emotional, the surreal, and the strangely dry. It's just as wonderful to read as it is wonderful to look at his paintings. It makes me imagine the work expanding into other media, into music and sculptures and animation and dance. What an amazing artist.

[@s55333]

Although never mentioned, his compositions address really good too - just looking at form, chair, texture, and value, regardless of subject material (which is most salient) they are really well put together

[@sawad8109]

Quality videos. Great content! Thx

[@justwaiting5744]

The pacing and music on this video were perfect with your voice.

[@TNT-km2eg]

Odilon Redon , the father of symbolism , king of pastel , Prince of Color . His only equal was Edgar Degas . The black period was just a transition.

[@TNT-km2eg]

Funny thing this comment section . Consists clearly of art history ( and not only that ) illiterates. However , there's a hope

[@hawk0485]

Congratulations on your success, I was looking through your video catalogue after youtube recommended one of your old videos to me and I was shocked how many views some of the more recent videos have gotten, I am happy for you and I hope it works out with your artists residence thing. I also hope you still read all the comments even if you don't respond anymore. PS: Would be nice if you put the music used in the video into the description, the track on this one is very nice.

[@MI-gn9lg]

I encourage y'all to check out the works of Redon's teacher, Rodolphe Bresdin, especially if you have the chance to see them up close as they are very dense with minute detail.

[@cristiplopeanu]

I think life is more of a nightmare for people, as they lack the imagination to visualize the consequences of their actions and even predictable results come as a surprise for most people. Glad to see this video pop-up in my recommendations, and grateful to learn about this artist from you.

[@mhm2957]

"draw a monster. why is it a monster?"

[@Spirit-Life980]

Very enjoyable

[@cynthiacupler8005]

Very interesting.

[@SirCommoner]

"Smiling spiders, crying spiders; egg person, plant person." - The Canvas

[@ukrs7359]

can you please give credit to the music?

[@MhmOkei]

Love ur vids🎉 keep it up!

[@clarkhardgrave8779]

Nice reflection an a great series. I believe that we must not forget that, as art pieces, they are wonderfully composed and executed. To me the symbolism/subject is secondary.

[@clayshearer5602]

The spider may have been inspiration for Lovecraft's "Mr. Brown Jenkins"

[@sofiamielcitas4224]

never heard of him ! its gorgeous

[@TNT-km2eg]

Nothing to be proud of

[@sofiamielcitas4224]

@@TNT-km2eg ???

[@barrybabbot7481]

do you ever get that feeling when you sometimes close your eyes it feels like your expanding or growing rapidly? That's what crying spider makes me feel

[@John-bm4mq]

Damn, i love this video! Also, what is the name of the background music btw? It just makes the poignant parts awe-full!

[@norahollin1921]

Supurb narration!

[@unit4039]

Another fantastic video! Could you tell us what piece of music you used in this one? Thx in advance!

[@claudemadrid4950]

Good video on a very interesting and not well-known enough artist... What you forgot to mention in the video (but maybe you had done it in the video about the Cyclops that I haven't seen yet) is that Odilon Redon, with Gustave Moreau and many other artists, is considered as being part of a late 19th century artistic movement called "Symbolism" which was a step between Romantism before it and Surrealism after it... Redon's Noirs can also be considered as influential on the art of East-European illustrators of the second half of 20th century, for instance Polish illustrators... and on a French graphist and illustrator called Roland Topor... the main difference between Redon and Topor is that, as Topor worked mostly in the 1960's and 1970's, his art was often much more obviously sexual than Redon's Noirs... but for instance, Redon's spiders with a human head are very looking like some Topor's drawings... but good video nevertheless on an artist that is unfortunately too often left aside of art's history... when he's definiteley a step of it. 😀

[@Harryisfedup]

You should do a video on Napalm 2004 by Banksy. Truly some of the most unnerving art ive ever seen

[@Annaradun]

Love your channel. It would be great to see a review of Pirosmani paintings . He is an awesome artist in my opinion.

[@jazzew]

Hmmmmm...intriguing analysis. I find myself getting inspired and gently pushed to actually make something. I guess I've been afraid of using my imagination, worrying about how accurate limbs and heads and whatnot look. That keeps me frozen, though. And drawing from his dreams, too? I've always wanted to do that, only did it once. He's an interesting person.

[@lilnigga9622]

Why don't you just do whatever you like & enjoy, regardless of the outcome/final product. If not, you're hindering your creativity for basically no reason.

[@sarahkim4563]

Such a great video. Your commentary added to the already impressive artwork. Could anyone tell me what song is the soundtrack? Thanks!

[@leannacheung7544]

I want to know as well. It's so hauntingly beautiful

[@alibatuhankilmen3672]

@@leannacheung7544 Olêka · Franz Gordon

[@Uhlersoth77]

@@alibatuhankilmen3672 Thank you!

[@alventuradelacruz522]

They are easier to interpret than modern art

[@alexcarter8807]

That spider at the beginning looks like it was drawn by Maurice Sendak.

[@yonmata7955]

ty :)

[@anissgreen618]

What music is it you're playing in the background? It's really pretty.

[@justicelovingskunk9910]

Very interesting artwork, but what's the music you are using?

[@wearenotdoinggethelp1077]

One of my own favorite dreams was actually one in which I died. I was absolutely thrilled by what my own imagination was able to create. But whenever I tell someone about that dream, they can't understand that it wasn't a nightmare to me, even though I woke up in the moment i died. It took place in a completely white bathroom with white, clean tiles on the walls. I looked in the mirror which hung over the (white) sink and coughed. Small spatters in the sink. I coughed even more and more blood came out of my mouth, while I flet how my lungs slowly filled with liquid and I knew that I'd drown in my very own blood. But the blood on the sink and the strange feeling of my consciousness slowly fading away felt weirdly familiar, although I knew that I should try to hold on. Everything became dizzy and slipped through my fingers but it was alright because although I was scared of the loss of control, it was inevitable. This is how these drawings make me feel. They are a weird confontation with the obscure side of being. They feel familiar yet you can't really recognize anything in them neither can you hold onto them if that makes sense. Yeah. I love human imagination.

[@creatureoflove]

god dammit i love this channel

[@RoseDragoness]

I love the music, what is it?

[@zeeseventimes]

what are the songs you use in your videos they're all so good

[@xihearthe80sx]

The song in this video is Oleka by Franz Gordon

[@TeatroGrotesco]

Dreaming: it can be unsettling but nightmare is an interpretation. The difference between a Rpe scene and a love scene in a movie can be the music. We bring the music to the dream and make it pleasant or a nightmare.

[@GeraldoAvelino]

If you guys like dream art like odilon work(and surrealism), check Peter Birkhäuser

[@kutiekandise]

I have a book of all his artworks

[@wickedways1291]

When I was 5 I began both seeing and hearing individuals those around me could not see. My uncle Bon came back from Vietnam and introduced me to the world of art. My dreams are very vibrant and 95% lucid. I also astral project. I have thought of illustrating my dreams, although I am more interested in illustrating what I believe to be spirits. Your beautiful, wicked art has prompted me to do just that. I think I will begin with the black Hummingbird I watched along with one of my cats, as it flew through the room, over our heads and out a "Closed," window. Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent and dreams.

[@nmercenary]

What is the background song to this video? It’s beautiful 🥹

[@channelsixtysix066]

I wish I could draw more than just electronic circuit diagrams.

[@dissipatingserenity3191]

please put the songs u use in the description i love u ❤❤

[@Amira_Phoenix]

What's the soundtrack for this video please?

[@davidlee6720]

words, even poetry, are not sufficient unto dreams,

[@Lunogu72]

Would you like to talk about Nicola Samori's nature of fear in one of your future videos?

[@starry-p]

There is something disturbing about how mysterious many of these drawings are

[@MorsMorsMorsOvO]

What is all of the songs that you used?

[@kangaroo8858]

Hey, does anyone knows the name of the music in the background?

[@karolinakuc4783]

Make a video about Beksiński or Magdalena Abakanowicz

[@BruhMo]

Hey can anyone tell me what the music used in this video is, it is very fitting and i'd like to know.

[@sawad8109]

Sounds like Oleka by Franz Gordon

[@BruhMo]

@@sawad8109 thx u are a great help 👍

[@Vinicius_sn22]

Does anyone know the name of the background music

[@ST0AT]

What song did you use for this vid?

[@xihearthe80sx]

The song is Oleka by Franz Gordon

[@blippiwithaclippi3197]

May I ask what is the music used in this video??

[@xihearthe80sx]

The song is Oleka by Franz Gordon

[@PMAngst]

What's the song called?

[@finlie2187]

Does anyone know the name of the song?