In My Dream I Saw in the Sky a Face of Mystery

1885

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Religious

Dominant colour

In My Dream I Saw in the Sky a Face of Mystery is a 1885 by Odilon Redon, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Odilon Redon
When & what style?: 1885 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

You see a pale, floating face in a dark sky—no body, just huge eyes and a faint smile. Redon made this in 1885, when most artists painted real things. He painted dreams instead. The face feels like it’s watching you, but it doesn’t judge. It just is. If you like this quiet strangeness, look up the technique called sfumato—soft edges that make things feel like they’re fading in and out.