Description
One of Redon’s favorite themes was a head depicted in profile, sometimes separated from the body to symbolize the spirit released from the material world. It also suggests a metaphor for abandoning physical reality for the inner realm of dreams, fantasy, and poetic reverie. This painting conveys the idea of inward-turning vision by framing the head in a series of collapsing rectangles. Conservation analysis confirms that the figure is a woman wearing a helmet and holding a green staff in her right hand.
Provenance
Possibly Gustave Fayet [1865-1925], Béziers (Before 1925); (Jacques Dubourg [1897-1981], Paris, sold to Knoedler & Co.) (Until 1954); (Knoedler & Co., New York, sold to Mildred Andrews Putnam) (1954-1956); Mildred Andrews Putnam [1890/92-1984], Cleveland, OH, by descent to her son, Peter Andrews Putnam (1956-1984); Peter Andrews Putnam [1925-1987], Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art (1984-1987); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1988-)
Accession Number
1988.91
Medium
oil on paper mounted on canvas
Dimensions
Framed: 69 x 54.5 x 7.5 cm (27 3/16 x 21 7/16 x 2 15/16 in.); Unframed: 53.3 x 38 cm (21 x 14 15/16 in.)
Classification
Painting
Credit Line
Gift of the Mildred Andrews Fund
