Redon Eye-Balloon, 1878, Charcoal, 42.5x33.2 cm, The Museum Odilon Redon (1840-1916)

The charcoal drawing presents a striking juxtaposition of natural and mechanical forms. Dominating the composition is a large, spherical object that immediately registers as an eye. The iris, rendered with meticulous detail, reflects a diffuse light source, creating a sense of depth and internal life. This ocular form is suspended by what appears to be a hot air balloon’s basket and rigging, suggesting a hybrid entity – part organic, part manufactured.
Below the floating eye-balloon lies a dark, indistinct landscape. The artist employed varying degrees of charcoal pressure to create a tonal range that suggests depth and atmospheric perspective. A band of darker tones delineates the horizon line, while below it, a tangle of vegetation is hinted at through rough, gestural marks. This lower portion lacks sharp definition, contributing to an overall feeling of ambiguity and dreamlike quality.
The drawing’s subtexts are layered and open to interpretation. The eye, traditionally associated with perception, knowledge, and surveillance, takes on a surreal significance when combined with the balloons connotations of flight, exploration, and perhaps even escape. This union could be read as an allegory for the human desire to transcend limitations – both physical and intellectual. The floating eye might symbolize a detached observer, surveying the world from above, or it could represent the subjective nature of perception itself.
The indistinct landscape below further enhances this sense of detachment. It is not a place of concrete reality but rather a backdrop against which the central figure operates. This lack of grounding reinforces the feeling that we are witnessing something otherworldly and symbolic. The artist’s use of charcoal lends a somber, almost melancholic tone to the work, suggesting a contemplation on themes of isolation, observation, and the boundaries between the self and the world.