Reverie, A Portrait of Odilon Redon. Redon was born in Bordeaux, Aquitaine. He studied drawing at fifteen years old. His artistic studies expanded to include sculpting, etching and lithography, studying with Rodolphe Bresdin.
His early works were done almost exclusively in charcoal and lithography. He published his first lithography works in 1879. In the 1890s, Redon was working in pastels and oils, by then his favorite media.
In 1899 Redon was becoming popular, he was commissioned to do decorative panels for the dining room of the Chateau de Domecy-sur-le-Vault. It was here, in 1900-1901, that Redon transitioned from ornamental to abstract painting.
Redon was awarded the Legion of Honor in 1903. His popularity continued to increase with the largest exhibition at the U.S. International Exhibition of Modern Art in 1913.
Redon passed away in 1916.
