...I Plunged into Solitude. I Dwelt in the Tree behind me. - Odilon Redon

A haunting lithograph by Odilon Redon from his 1896 series, depicting a solitary, hollowed tree through atmospheric light and shadow.

This lithograph is plate three from the portfolio 'La Tentation de Saint Antoine' (The Temptation of Saint Anthony), published in 1896. Odilon Redon, a central figure in the Symbolist movement, produced this work as part of his third series of lithographs inspired by the writings of Gustave Flaubert. The image depicts a massive, ancient tree with a hollowed-out trunk, rendered in deep, velvety blacks and subtle grey tones. The title, inscribed beneath the image, translates from the French: 'Je me suis enfoncé dans la solitude. J'habitais l'arbre derrière moi.' Redon utilised the medium of lithography to explore the boundaries between reality and the subconscious. His technique involves a dense application of charcoal-like marks, creating a texture that feels both organic and otherworldly. The tree acts as a vessel for the internal state of the subject, suggesting a retreat from the external world into a private, psychological space. The contrast between the light-dappled bark and the impenetrable darkness of the hollow creates a sense of mystery. Unlike the precise lines of traditional engraving, Redon's approach relies on the accumulation of tone to build form. This work demonstrates his ability to evoke mood through light and shadow, a hallmark of his 'noirs' period. The composition is centred on the tree, which dominates the frame, forcing the viewer to confront the void within its trunk. It is a quiet, contemplative piece that avoids narrative clarity, preferring instead to suggest an atmosphere of introspection and isolation. The print captures the essence of Symbolist aesthetics, where the physical world serves as a starting point for exploring the hidden realms of the human mind.