And Bound Him a Thousand Years - Odilon Redon

A haunting lithograph by Odilon Redon from his 1899 Apocalypse series, depicting the binding of the dragon in deep, atmospheric tones.

This lithograph, titled 'And Bound Him a Thousand Years', is part of the 'Apocalypse de Saint-Jean' series, which Odilon Redon produced in 1899. The work depicts a scene from the Book of Revelation, specifically the binding of the dragon. Redon, a central figure in the Symbolist movement, was known for his 'noirs', a collection of charcoal drawings and lithographs that explored the boundaries between reality and the subconscious. The composition is dominated by deep, velvety blacks, a hallmark of Redon's technical mastery in lithography. A serpentine dragon, rendered with textured scales, occupies the centre of the frame. It is restrained by chains that anchor it to a dark, indistinct mass. Above the creature, a faint, ethereal light emanates from a singular point, providing the only contrast to the surrounding gloom. The atmosphere is one of quiet tension rather than overt action, reflecting the artist's interest in the psychological and spiritual dimensions of his subject matter. Redon's approach to the biblical narrative avoids literal depiction. Instead, he focuses on the emotional weight of the scene. The use of light and shadow creates a sense of mystery, drawing the viewer into a space that feels both ancient and dreamlike. The print demonstrates his ability to manipulate the lithographic stone to achieve a wide range of tonal values, from the deepest shadows to the subtle, ghostly highlights that define the dragon's form. This work remains a representative example of his late nineteenth-century graphic output, where he moved away from the starker contrasts of his earlier career toward a more nuanced, atmospheric style.