France, 19th century / 1885
The Marsh Flower, a Sad Human Head
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs The Marsh Flower, a Sad Human Head as print (France, 19th century · 1885).
This portfolio was published in an edition of 50, one of which Redon sent to poet Stéphane Mallarmé soon after Redon became a frequent participant in a literary salon held regularly at Mallarmé's home.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this print as lithograph on China paper laid on wove paper and credits Odilon Redon (French, 1840–1916).
The museum's collection notes: This series is one of many that Odilon Redon created throughout his career. Nearly two-thirds of his lithographs took the form of portfolios—prints connected conceptually by a theme or narrative and physically by a folder or binding. Such works were often dispersed over time, but Cleveland was fortunate to acquire several complete sets with their original covers during the 1920s. Dating from Redon’s early experimentation with lithography, Homage to Goya was intended as a tribute to 18th-century Spanish master Francisco de Goya, whose interest in dreams and the subconscious influenced Redon. The six seemingly unrelated images celebrate Goya’s
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtThe Marsh Flower, a Sad Human HeadOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.