Who painted Butterflies?

Butterflies was painted by Odilon Redon in 1910.

Where can I see Butterflies?

Butterflies is held by Museum of Modern Art.

What movement is Butterflies?

Butterflies is associated with Post-Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Butterflies?

Museum-quality prints of Butterflies are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Butterflies

Odilon Redon , 1910

Butterflies is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Odilon Redon. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

About this work

Overview

Odilon Redon’s 1910 oil painting titled *Butterflies* presents a tranquil scene of several insects in flight against a clear blue sky. The composition includes a few butterflies perched on a rocky outcrop, while others glide across the canvas, their wings rendered in a palette of yellow, brown, purple and other muted tones. The work conveys a quiet moment within a natural landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The painting focuses on butterflies as the central motif, using their delicate forms to evoke a sense of fleeting beauty and calm. By placing the insects against an expansive sky and a subdued terrain, Redon suggests a harmonious relationship between the fragile creatures and their environment, inviting contemplation of transience and serenity.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, the piece employs soft, blended brushstrokes that soften edges and create a dreamlike atmosphere. The color scheme is restrained, favoring muted hues that enhance the ethereal quality of the scene. This approach reflects Redon’s shift from his earlier monochrome “noirs” to a more lyrical, pastel‑influenced visual language.

History & Provenance

Created after Redon’s transition to color media in the 1890s, *Butterflies* entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on display. The work exemplifies his later period, during which he embraced oil and pastel techniques and moved away from the stark charcoal works of his youth.

Context

The painting belongs to the broader Post‑Impressionist movement, which emphasized personal expression and symbolic content over strict naturalism. Redon’s interest in the symbolic potential of everyday subjects aligns with the movement’s focus on interior vision, while his use of color and soft focus anticipates later Symbolist and early modernist tendencies.