Queensland Art Gallery Presscuttings Book 8 : Pressclippings, 1977-1981

f't lu. t csu rr r c· 11nn, 111 the rt1rly !!"150s l~UriJ:g 201l'll1 ~ 1, lhl' mm,1 1':\.J)t 11· r ncqulrcd IJy rh,• t:a ll!'r,r·~ 1llrrc1,,r 11 .:\Jt•l/1,11, nr~n• Ill' J)\lr.;'lt:\!l Pll :l :,ll 10 L-OIH'lon. ~ t-.amr trip 1\1• rnr s 120,1100 1111- ,, ·trnll of n Yln111:~ anding P11r1 uillr ,'11r C u:1 1 man's • v1s1on Students of literature and art alike wiU enjoy a visit to "One Man's Vi– sion" an exhibition of 7S graphic works by Odilon Rcdon, to be seen at the Queensland Art Gallery, M.I.M. Building, Brisbane until February IS. Redon, although not a universal genius like his slightly older cr,ntem– porarics Baudelairc and Flaubcrt in the literary field, was, like them, ap– preciated by a minority of people dur– ing his own lifetime. Rcdon was an exact contemporary of Daudct and Zola, and of similar age lo the poets Mallarmc and Vcrlaine. The artist 's favourite reading marter included "Les Flcurs du Mai" of Baudc.lairc. Thus ii is not surprising that images akin 10 the literary world of the time appear in Redon's graphic works . As well as symbolism, we sec evidence of surrealism and naturalism. However, Redon did not, in fact, attach himself to any particular artistic or literary group, consequently he succeeded in preserving a primarily original per– sonal vision. Redon was born at Bordeaux in 1840 and, after studying with a local painter, went to Paris 10 prepare for a career as an architect. It is perhaps significant that he failed an oral en– trance examim,tion to the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. Unable to study there, he was taught by Geromc and later by Brcsdin, a talented printmaker whose unconven– tional approach was contrary 10 academic method . Thus Rcdon's particular vision evoh cd and his success culminated at the age of 73 in his impressive volume of work which outweighed that of Matisse, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne and Picasso, at the Armoury Show in New York in 1913. Last year the Queensland Gallery was fortunate in acquiring " Centaure visant lcs nues, " I 89S, a lithograph, by Redon, for our state's collection which has also benefitted so significantly dur– ing the last month by the addition of a Rubens, a Van Dyck and a Tintoreuo. - Pamela King.